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The Problem: Muskuloskeletal Disorders
In order to understand the basis of ergonomics, let’s first explore the problem it fixes: Muskuloskeletal Disorders. These are injuries that affect muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. They often arise from workplace risk factors such as repetitive tasks and awkward postures, including repetitive mousing and keyboarding at an office desk.
Examples:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Tendinitis
Rotator cuff injuries (affects the shoulder)
Epicondylitis (affects the elbow)
Trigger finger
Muscle strains and low back injuries
The Solution
er·go·nom·ics
(noun) /ˌərɡəˈnämiks /
the scientific study of people and their working conditions, especially done in order to improve effectiveness
Ergonomics is all about fitting the job to the person, not forcing the person to fit the job.
It’s applying the understanding of the human anatomy and engineering controls to minimize injuries.