Body mechanics are, in the shortest and simplest terms, the way our bodies are positioned during movement.
While everyone is slightly different, there are optimal ways our body can move. Good body mechanics help to put the least amount of stress on your body as possible while performing a task. Good body mechanics include keeping the spine neutral, ensuring joints aren’t over used and reducing as much load as possible on our joints. Bad body mechanics, such as slouching, repetitive motions and overloading joints, end up leading to degeneration and eventually injury.
Chances are your body is sending you messages right now. Is your neck stiff/sore/tight? How about your back and shoulders? Do you have pins and needles or numbness in your hands or feet? At the end of the day, these symptoms are your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. If you feel achy, sore or tight at the end of the day, chances are, at some point during the day, you are using bad body mechanics.
The easiest way to figure out what could be causing it is to listen to your body throughout the day. When do you feel it starting? What position are you in most of the day? The answers to those questions will help to give you clues as to what the cause may be. Or you could seek help from the experts at Red Mountain Medical Center Physical Therapy. A physical therapist can assist you to identify what postures may be causing your pain.
How do I Fix Bad Body Mechanics?
Once you narrow down the cause, it can be as simple a fix as switching hands during repetitive work, or even taking a short break every 15 to 20 minutes of repetitive activity. The surest way is to see someone to do an ergonomic assessment of your workplace. Once the issues are identified, the expert will recommend ways to adjust the variables to reduce the issues. If you have been suffering from bad body mechanics for a long time, you may need some therapy to help lengthen the muscles that are tight and strengthen the muscles that are weak.
Why does any of this matter?
Believe it or not, the adage no pain, no gain couldn’t be further from the truth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the leading major event or exposure resulting in occupational injuries or illnesses for all ownerships in 2016 was overexertion and bodily reaction, with 376,190 cases accounting for 33 percent of total cases. The 2016 incidence rate for overexertion or bodily reaction was 33.9 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. The median time away from work was 12 days for all musculoskeletal disorders. What do those numbers mean? They mean more than one-third of all workplace injuries/illnesses in 2016 were due, in one form or another, to poor body mechanics. So, do yourself a favor. The next time you feel sore after work, look at your body mechanics or mention it to your supervisor. Also, work with a physical therapist to resolve your specific issues. Don’t let yourself become a statistic.
For additional information about body mechanics or any other issues related to therapy, please contact Red Mountain Medical Plaza Physical Therapy at (480) 855-8866.