Preventing Musculo-Skeletal Disorders

The side effects of work ethics at the IT offices are as telling as the effect that it has of late, on the economy.

The computer has taken over, and a lot of manual labors have been done away with the help of technology.

However, it is you, the relentless office bearer, who bears the weight of many a stressful injury or disease.

Musculo-skeletal disorders are prolific in the workforce now and you need to be a step ahead of the disorder to keep the system well oiled. True that many exercises and cures have been invented for the purpose but it is always better to follow the axiom – Prevention is better than cure.

A general conscientious step is to encourage medical cover and basic facilities at the workhouse itself. Weekly or fortnightly checks to get the health situation updated keeps you learned of any disorder creeping in. There is a wealth of knowledge to gain and the priority should be the knowledge of our own body. Isn’t it?

The other preventive steps are:

• You should separate the physical from the mental and do the physical labors only to your ability. There is no point going on all fours to carry some stuff only to get ill and be useless for a good period.
• The computer should be set up according to your suitability and you should ensure that no one else spoils the set up even if he or she works on the same monitor for a few days.
• You should keep your entire team abreast with the negative impact you may have in case some of you incur musculo-skeletal disorders. There should be a general working theory in process towards it.
• You need to be well placed in your office, that is, also in front of your monitor. Your breadwinner machine should be a comfortable friend of yours, not an object of stress in your dreams. Keep the supports handy and be well versed with the small techniques and tips at the machine to make your work smoother.
• A creative room, gym and a lounge room, nowadays held by a lot of big companies, not only keep you distressed and energetic, they are a constructive way of putting the body toxins at sea.
• By all means, avoid a generous intake of tea and coffee. They numb the thinking process and naturally add up to the sickening of body. Keep the dose to 2 cups a day, or preferably even less.
• A healthy number of working members in your department and good camaraderie are essential to keep yourself filled with vigor. Keep in touch with the colleagues even outside the office and help yourself to outings with them to encourage genuine affection. This way, you will look forward to office and be less stressed.
• The normal stretching of arms at frequent intervals and a walk after, say, lunch goes a long way in keeping you work-fit.

The decision is yours to keep the body free of all ailments that ruin your productivity.