Ergonomic Principles You Can Apply At Home As Well

Why a lot is spoken and written and researched about ergonomics, RSI and other motion related injuries in the work place, perhaps not as much emphasis is placed on ergonomics principles being applied inside the home. Keep the following aspects of home ergonomics in mind:

The Kitchen: Is the time that you spend in the kitchen ergonomically safe? Examine the design of items such as scales, knives, floor mops, ice cream scoops etc and see if these may not be responsible for some of the physical stress you experience.

The Garden: The bending over, stooping and kneeling that gardening requires could make this activity put a lot of strain on the back.

Pay attention to your posture and body position when kneeling, squatting or bending. Also make sure to use ergonomically designed tools for the garden. Look for products with “natural” or “pistol” grips.

Family Room: You are going to be spending a lot of time in this room, reading, watching TV or spending time with the family. Pay attention to the chairs, couches, recliners etc that you have around the house.

Bedroom: The kind of mattress is very important to your quality of sleep and rest. Invest in an ergonomically designed mattress which is soft enough for comfort but firm enough for support. Think of ergonomic pillows and leg spacers as well.