WORKING POSTURE

Working Posture
Background
Many work situation require posture which have to be maintained for
long period of time
42% of european worker adopt uncomfortable working posture for
more 2 hours a day
Working Posture
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Repetitive
work Lifting /
Carrying
Maintaining
a posture
%
Percentage or the work force of different countries in the BC who work in
uncomfortable posture for more than 2 hours per day (first column).
Lift or Carry loads for more than 2 hours a day ( second column).
Repetitive work for more than 2 hours a day ( third column)
From Paoli, P. 1992
Static Unsupported Posture
Two sets of
equilibrium
conditions
A vertical line.
Drawn through the centre of gravity of the
body, must fall within the bodys base of
supports
The net torque (Moment)
Moment about each articulation of the
body must be zero
Working Posture
Balance
Stability ~ the size of support
~ the hight of centre of gravity
Stable Posture
1. Lying
2. Sitting
Balancing
Dynamic : Ballerina, tightrope walker
Static
Working Posture
Balance
Mechanical Concepts
Force = N
Stress = Pascal, F/m
2
Moments / Torque = twisting force

Moment = Force X length of moment arm
Working Posture
Biomechanic of Back entension
In Static Equiblibrium
Fb + Ft + Fm + Fj = 0
Mb + Mt + Mm = 0
Mb + Mt = - Mm
Working Posture
On examination of the preceding simple model
a few critical factors appear:

As the lift weight is moved further away from the
spine, the forces between each pair of vertebrae
increase
Although increased strength allows the lifter to lift
heavier weights, the potential for injury is
increased as the joint reaction forces, including
those applied to the IV disc, increase.
Increase body weight (Ft) increases the forces
applied to the intervertebral joints
Increasing the angle of inclination of the spine, ie
flexion, increases the joint reaction forces
Working Posture
Working Posture
Lumbar Curve
Spinal Curve
Standing Posture
The majority of people with low back problems seem to be more
comfortable when their lumbar spines are supported is a
position of extension
Lordosis
Kyphosis
Working Posture
Sitting Posture
Relaxed Uprigth
Working Posture
Intra-discal Pressure in various Posture and Activities
Working Posture
Intra-discal Pressure in various Posture and Activities
Working Posture
Lying Posture
Posture
Intra discal
Pressure %
Standing Upright 100
Lying on side 75
Lying supine 35
Lying supine with traction 10
Working Posture
Good Working Posture:
Minimum of static muscular effort
Posible to perform the task at hand more effectively
and with least muscular effort
In general,
a varied working posture is better than fixed working
posture, but
A working posture which is static and relaxed is better
than which is static and tense
Guidelines
1. Avoid forwad inclination of the head and neck
2. Avoid forward inclination of the trunk
3. Avoid requiring the upper limbs to be used in a raised
position
4. Avoid twisted or asymetrical postures
5. Where posible, keep joints within the middle third of
their range of motion
6. Provide an adequate backrest in all seats and design
the seat and workstation in such a way that the backrest
can be used to full advantage
7. Where muscular forces must be exerted, the limbs
should in the position of greates strength unless by
doing so one of the foregoing principle is violated
Working Posture
Reduce
Discomfort
Optimizing
Workplace
Optimizing
Equipment
Reduce
Static
Work Load
Improving
Working
Posture
Reducing
Holding Time
of posture
Sufficient & properly
Rest pauses
An indicator of work load is the discomfort perceived by the worker.
Bad Posture
Bad Posture
Stooped working posture