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I studied mechanical engineering in France and Germany, where I specialised in Arbeitswissenschaft, i.e. ergonomics. I graduated in 2003 with the titles of "Ingénieur Arts et Métiers" and "Dipl. Ing. der T.H. Karlsruhe".
Since then, I have been working in The Hague (Netherlands) for a large international organisation, part-time as an ergonomist and a health expert. As such and in order to help people with with upper-limb disorders, I developped an original approach to ergonomics at the workplace, based as much on adapting the working environment (classical ergonomics) than on behavioural change, based on the Mensendieck approach. To this end, I first focus on raising the workers's body awareness, as well as their education in basic biomechanics and pathomechanics, whilst keeping the training accessible and enjoyable.
My ultimate goal in the field of prevention is to render my clients able to take responsibility for safeguarding their health at work. To this end, I try to limit their dependency on "environmental gadgets" (e.g., exercise balls, kneeling chairs). Where organizational issues are a cause of stress, my mission is to highlight the causes of the stress (as an ergonomist), as well as their physical consequences, to teach how to recognize them (body awareness!), and how to deal with them (e.g., tasks reorganization, relaxation exercises).
When treatment is unavoidable, I lobby for a health system in which the patient and the causes (rather than the symptoms) of occupational pain play the central role. I recognize the benefits of symptomatic (hands-on) treatment, but argue that a purely symptomatic approach to work-related pain is often largely insufficient. Professionals have to work hand in hand, together with their patient seen as just another specialist.
I work together with and under the tutoring of Ans Samama since early 2006. As a consultant, I offer workplace assessments, lectures and various trainings (incl. back school training) to individuals, companies or organisations (in the Netherlands or abroad), accompanied upon request by Ans Samama. Our clients include office workers, musicians, sportsmen, etc.
Contact:
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Ans Samama, Mensendieck therapist, has been treating in the last 30 years thousands of musicians with a wide variety of complaints. In the last years, she has been treating office workers with upper-limb complaints as well. She has taught at universities and conservatories around the world. Her website is: http://www.musicerenzonderpijn.nl/
Contact: Ans Samama - Spinozalaan 1D2 - 2273XA Voorburg - The Netherlands (+31 70 369 22 20)
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