| Tips to Prevent Strains and Sprains |
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 17 December 2008 15:52 | |||
|
By Judy Kerry - State Compensation Insurance Fund Strains and sprains account for a majority of workplace injuries and lost work time. The injuries are often caused by lifting, pushing or overreaching and usually affect the back, shoulders, and arms. Although it only takes a moment to cause one of these injuries, it can take many painful days or months to heal. Preventing strain and sprain injuries is a lot easier than correcting them.Reaching Strain increases in proportion to the distance of the work from your body. There’s less strain on your body if the work is positioned directly in front of you and between your shoulders and waist, with a waist-high level being the most neutral and comfortable. So, try to work with your arms below your shoulder level and stay as close to the work area as possible. You may need to raise or lower yourself with a stool or ladder for better positioning. When reaching down, ‘build a bridge’ by putting one hand on a nearby surface to support your back. Bending Strains and sprains can occur from activities performed in awkward positions or when bending over and relying on your back for support rather than your leg muscles. When performing activities below your waist, bend your knees and squat down to position yourself closer to the work. If the task requires you to maintain a squatting position for a while, alternate kneeling down on one knee to transfer the load off your legs and back. Use a kneeling pad to reduce trauma to your knee. Pushing or Pulling Sometimes equipment can put more strain on your body if you push or pull it incorrectly. If given the choice, push rather than pull a load. But, in both cases, get as close to the load as possible. When pushing a load, use both hands and arms keeping them in close to your body; keep your back straight and lean into the load; then, use your whole body weight and leg muscles to walk the load as you push. If pulling a load, use both hands and arms; keep your back straight and lean away from the load; and again, use your whole body weight and leg muscles to walk the load as you pull. Your body works best when it’s used as it was designed. When you force your body to do things beyond its capability, you risk a strain or sprain injury. How can you prevent these injuries? The obvious thing is to keep yourself in good physical condition and work within your limits.
|
