Maintaining correct posture 'vital to prevent stress injury'

Correct posture is vital when performing work that requires sitting or standing in the same position for long periods of time, a doctor in work safety said here yesterday.

Those who fail to maintain a proper posture when engaged in static work thereby maximising the risks of repetitive stress injury (RSI) usually suffer from a variety of problems and injure their muscles, said Dr Fatima Shad Kaneez from the faculty of sciences at UAE University.

"There is a direct connection between certain job tasks and RSI," she said while addressing the week-long safety workshop at the university's women's campus. Dr Kaneez is the coordinator of the four-member organising committee of the workshop.

The workshop tries to train a group from different colleges at the university who will, in turn, pass on their knowledge to others in their respective departments.

Dr Kaneez said awareness on the subject is vital because it can help workers prevent back, neck and shoulder pain. People involved in jobs that require them to maintain certain body positions for long periods of time must understand the principles of ergonomics.

Dr Kaneez said ergonomics is the study of the factors or qualities in the design of something, especially a workplace or the equipment used by people at work that contribute to comfort, safety and efficiency.

It is important that work activities allow the worker to adopt several different but equally healthy and safe postures. Workers should also be aware of how poor posture often creates the problem, she said.

Whether it is a bad back, neck or shoulder pain, restricted breathing, perpetual exhaustion or limitations in performing a task or sport, "people must analyse the movement pattern of their bodies."

There are certain techniques, Dr Kaneez said, that can help a person maintain a balance in the body by releasing unnecessary tension. These can be applied while sitting, lying down, standing, walking, lifting and other daily activities.