Incorporating Ergohuman office chairs into a healthcare environment
It’s ironic, but in the health and social work sector, 22% of ill health is attributed to musculoskeletal disorders⁽¹⁾. Musculoskeletal disorders, the leading contributor to disabilities, encompass pain and limitations that affect people’s mobility and dexterity. These often affect their ability to work and live normally. They can impact the joints, bones, muscles, and other body systems.
It's an unfortunate reality that people who work in the healthcare sector, such as those in hospitals, nursing homes, and emergency services, risk their personal safety, especially when it comes to moving and handling patients. Many aspects of the job must be improved ergonomically, but one thing that we can suggest is an ergonomic office chair – such as the Ergohuman – for periods of desk work.
Prevalence of MSDs in healthcare professionals
According to the National Library of Medicine, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect over 80 per cent of physiotherapists, massage therapists, nurses, midwives, dentists and surgeons⁽²⁾. The leading causes of this include working through varied tasks, a high physical load, and repeating awkward, static postures.
Lower back, neck, and shoulder pain are the most common types of discomfort. More than 50 percent of nurses, dentists, surgeons, and midwives reported lower back pain. Neck, shoulder, and wrist pain were most prevalent in surgeons and dentists.
The most reported factors among these professions include:
> Working in the same position for a long time
> Working in an awkward position
> Working when physically tired or injured
> Performing the same task repeatedly
> Treating many patients in one day
Most healthcare practitioners work in static positions, either standing or using stools. They often use treatment tables or beds. To ensure a reduction in MSDs, devices – such as tables and screen positioning – should be adjustable so that the workers can practice healthy posture.
Why posture is so important
In the National Library of Medicine study, there were three main ideas proposed to reduce symptoms of musculoskeletal issues: modify the patient's or the practitioner’s position; use techniques that will not contribute to discomfort; regularly stretch and change posture.
Posture was a risk factor that was consistently present across professions where MSDs were common. The study found that to reduce MSDs, the goal is to adopt as neutral a posture as possible.
Many aspects of healthcare need to be changed to make healthcare professions more ergonomic. In some cases, such as handling patients, an ergonomic solution is not always possible. But one thing that’s for certain is that workers in the healthcare profession should be offered an ergonomic solution as much as possible. In meetings, desk work, or conversations with patients, a quality ergonomic chair should be available.
Doctors, for example, spend a lot of their time in offices, working at desks, either taking notes, consulting with patients, or doing reports. One study reported that healthcare professionals should have access to an adjustable chair with a backrest that has, at minimum, an adjustable seat height, a supportive backrest, a seat that doesn’t compress the popliteal fossa (otherwise known as the ‘knee pit’), and a swivel base.
In addition to sitting on a quality chair, it’s recommended that prolonged posturing – maintaining the same posture for a long time – should be avoided. Healthcare professionals should refrain from turning and twisting, bending the back, and excessive flexion of the wrist, elbows, and knees.
Ergohuman’s design and its impact on musculoskeletal disorders
Ergohuman Elite is an excellent choice for a healthcare setting because it can be adjusted according to the user. This is the most ergonomic solution, as true ergonomics is about fitting the workstation to the user – not the other way around.
Healthcare professionals should, at the very least, be able to adjust the chair's height and lumbar support. Our chair offers over a dozen more adjustments to allow bespoke comfort for each user, according to their height, weight, strength, and comfort preferences.
After decades of research and development, we have created an office chair that is made to improve employee well-being. Other features of the Ergohuman (as well as Enjoy Elite and Mirus Elite) include:
Adjustable armrests
The multi-axis armrests on our chairs move in multiple directions, with adjustable height, width, depth, angle, and tilt, so you can adopt the most comfortable position depending on the task.
Seat depth adjustment
Our chairs offer adjustable seat depth so you can ensure support for the thighs and reduce pressure on the lower back. As mentioned earlier, it’s important for a healthcare professional’s chair to avoid compression on the popliteal area. With our adjustable seat depth, you can ensure a gap between the back of the knees and the front of the seat, which is designed with a waterfall edge to avoid any pressure.
Synchronous back and seat tilt mechanism
When free-float recline mode is activated, the seat synchronises with the backrest to ensure proper spine support in any recline position. This feature is important for reducing stiffness and avoiding repeated static posture.
Adjustable backrest
The Ergohuman chair has an adjustable backrest height so the user can align the lumbar support with their lower back. There is no one-size-fits-all, so we’ve ensured that our chair is suitable for a diverse range of users. The backrest also reclines generously, allowing you to lean back when you require. It also locks in four positions, so you can remain in your preferred position without straining.
Managing musculoskeletal health
Anyone can be a victim of musculoskeletal issues, no matter their age, job, or ability. Prevention is key. If somebody already has an MSD, reasonable adjustments to their working environment are also beneficial.
Ergohuman helps prevent and manage musculoskeletal disorders. In turn, this can help bring down the percentage of people, particularly those in the human health and social work activity sector, who experience MSDs.
Across all industries, 7.3 million working days were lost to work-related MSDs in 2021/22. It’s important for managers to invest in proper ergonomic equipment to help reduce MSDs among people in their team.
Ergohuman chairs for reducing musculoskeletal pain
Healthcare professionals are significantly exposed to the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders, especially in the back, neck, shoulders, and wrists. The leading cause of this is related to adopting awkward postures. While an ergonomic office chair isn’t going to solve all the problems, it will ensure a safe place to sit when they are undertaking desk work, in meetings, or having discussions with patients.
The Ergohuman Elite chair is designed to combat musculoskeletal issues, back pain, neck pain, and discomfort. From its advanced lumbar support system to its many adjustable features, it’s an excellent addition to any workspace, including those for healthcare workers.