Transcript Document

ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Ergonomic
Solutions
________ ________
for
___the
___Aging
____
Workforce.
________
Val Kshirsagar PT, OCS, CHT,
CEAS
Physical Therapist
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Alliance Occupational
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
• Working population demographics.
• Need to keep the older worker
employed.
• Relevant Aging Changes.
• Strategies.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
According to the Bureau Of Labor
Statistics: Between 1977 & 2007
• 65 & over increased by 101% compared to
59% total employment
• Men over 65 by 75% and women by147%
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BLS
• Over 75 increased by 172%, a small
0.8% of the employed.
• This growth will continue
• By 2016, 55-64yrs increase by 36.6%
• 65-74 and over 75 by 80%.
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Baby Boomers
• 76 million start retiring beginning 2011
• They make up about 1/3 of the US
workforce
• Not enough skilled workers to take
their place
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By 2010
• Workers aged 35-44 will decrease by
19%
• 45-54 will increase by 21%
• 55-64 will increase by 52%
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Changes Worldwide
• Germany: 35-44 age group will
decrease by 27%
• UK by 19%
• Italy by 9%
• Japan by 10%
• China by 8%
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Research Shows:
• Learning Ability
• Intelligence
• Productivity
Do Not Necessarily Decline with Age
Employer Surveys show older workers
have less job turnovers, less absenteeism
and higher job satisfaction
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Relevant Aging Changes And
Results
EYES: Lens stiffens, becomes denser,
yellows. Number of nerve cells
decrease-depth perception affected.
Less fluid dry eyes.
• Need for brighter lights, larger font size.
• Changes with color perception: Difficulty
reading black letters on a blue
background or blue letters.
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Relevant Aging Changes And
Results
Did you know: Most 60 year olds
need 3 times more light than 20
year olds?
Arial 36 vs.
Times New Roman 12
Instructions on Labels and Dial in
Arial at 3 times the size.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Aging changes contd.
• Hearing Changes: High pitched sounds
harder to hear, consonants-k, t, s, p, ch.
Alarms need to accommodate for that.
Articulating consonants more clearly
helps more than speaking louder
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Aging changes contd.
Hearing Loss: Difficulty w / sound
discrimination or speech especially in noisy
environments-misunderstand communication,
miss important safety warnings.
Increased effectiveness of Warning Alarms
when combined with visual signals.
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Aging Changes Contd.
• Skin Changes: Thinner, less
elastic, tears more easily.
• Decreased # of sweat glands
and blood vessels-heat
dissipations affected.
• Bone less dense, weaker-reduce
trip hazards like cords, wet/oily
floors.
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Aging changes contd.
• Joint
changes: Thinner cartilage,
decreased flexibility more
susceptible to injury.
•Ligaments and Tendons: Weaker,
less elastic-more susceptible to
wear and tear and injury.
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Aging changes contd.
•Muscle Mass and Strength
decrease. Starts at 30 and continues
throughout life. By age 75 at 50%
of young adulthood.
•Regular exercising can partially
overcome or significantly delay the
loss.
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Stretch Breaks
Wrist Flexor Stretch
Keeping elbow straight, grasp left hand and slowly
bend wrist back until stretch is felt. Try this with
fingers pointing down. Hold 10-15seconds. Relax.
Repeat 3-5 times per set. Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Wrist Extensor Stretch
Keeping elbow straight, grasp left hand and slowly
bend wrist forward until stretch is felt. Hold 10-15
seconds.
Relax.
Repeat 3-5 times per set. Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Shoulder Shrugs:
Shrug shoulders up and down,
forward and backward. Try
rolls.
Repeat 5-10 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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Upper Trapezius Stretch:
DO NOT USE THE HAND ON
THE HEAD. Gently bend your
head towards the left
shoulder while grasping
your seat with your right
hand or while bending your
right arm behind you. You
should feel a gentle stretch
in your upper shoulder.
Hold for 10-15 seconds.
Repeat 3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Levator Scapula Stretch
Place left hand on same side
shoulder blade. Gently turn
your head to the opposite
side and
down. Hold for 10-15
seconds. DO NOT USE THE
HAND ON YOUR HEAD.
Repeat 3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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Neck Rotation:
Turn head slowly to look over one
shoulder, then the other. Hold each
position 1-2 seconds. Repeat 5-10 times
per set. Do 1 sets per session. Do 2 sessions
per day.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Neck Retraction:
Pull head straight back, keeping
eyes and jaw level, AND LOOK
UP. Repeat 3-5 times per set. Do 1
sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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Pectoral stretch: Standing in
the DOORWAY step
forwards till you feel a gentle
stretch in your chest
muscles. Hold for 10-15
seconds. SECOND ARM
POSITIONS-ELBOWS AT
SHOULDER HEIGHT AND
FOREARMS ON THE
DOOR FRAME.
Repeat 3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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Posterior Capsule Stretch:
Gently pull on right forward
elbow with other hand until
stretch is felt in shoulder.
Hold 10-15 seconds.
Repeat 3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Inferior Capsule Stretch:
Gently pull on right raised
elbow with other hand until
A gentle stretch is felt in the
shoulder.
Hold 10-15
seconds.
Repeat 3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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Chest Stretch:
Lace fingers behind back
and squeeze shoulder
blades together. Slowly
raise and straighten arms.
Hold 10-15 seconds.
Repeat 3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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Lower Cervical / Upper Thoracic Stretch:
Clasp hands together in front with arms
extended. Gently pull shoulder blades apart
and bend head forward.
Hold 10-15 seconds.
Repeat 3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Thoracolumbar Side-Bend:
Hands clasped, reach over
head and bend to left side until
stretch is felt. Then go to
the other side. Hold 10 seconds
in each position. Relax.
Repeat 2-3 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 1-2 sessions per day.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Gastroc Stretch:
Stand with left foot back,
leg straight, forward leg
bent. Keeping heel on floor,
lean into wall until a gentle stretch
is felt in the calf.
Hold 10-15 seconds.
Repeat 3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Quadriceps Stretch: (Standing)
Pull right heel toward buttock until
stretch is felt in front of thigh.
Hold 10-15 seconds.
Repeat 3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Hamstring Stretch: (Standing)
Place right foot on stool.
Slowly lean forward, KEEPING BACK
STRAIGHT until stretch is felt
in back of thigh.
Hold 10-15 seconds.
Repeat 3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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Backward Bend (Standing):
Arch backward to make
hollow of back deeper. Stay in
the comfortable range.
Hold 2-3 seconds.
Repeat 3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session.
Do 2 sessions per day.
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Lower Back Stretch (Sitting):
Sit in chair with knees spread apart. Bend forward to
floor. A comfortable stretch should be felt in lower back.
Hold 5-10 seconds. Repeat 2-3 times per set. Do 1 sets per
session. Do 1-2 sessions per day.
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Piriformis (Supine):
Cross legs, right on top. Gently pull other knee toward
chest until stretch is felt in buttock/hip of top leg. Hold
10-15 seconds. CAN BE DONE IN SITTING TOO. Repeat
3-5 times per set.
Do 1 sets per session. Do 2 sessions per day.
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Stretching: Piriformis (Supine)
Pull right knee toward opposite shoulder. Hold 10-15 seconds.
Relax. CAN BE DONE IN SITTING TOO. Repeat 3-5 times per
set.
Do 1 sets per session. Do 2 sessions per day.
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Strategies For Employers
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Strategies For Employers
•Proactive ergonomic changes
•Educating employees
• Mandatory micro stretch breaks
•Watching work hours and days
•Encouraging and enabling healthy
habits-gyms, yoga classes
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Ergonomics
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Risk Factors Involved
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I. Force – pushing/pulling/gripping
II. Awkward posture – head forward, rounded shoulder
III. Repetition – continual typing/mousing
IV. Duration – long days
V. Contact Stress – resting forearms or wrists affecting
circulation
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Force
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Proper Posture
Standing in one place
– Rest a foot on stool or low
box
– Switch feet often
– Wear good shoes
Driving
– Sit close enough to the
wheel, keep knees slightly
bent
– Fully support low back
Walking
– Stand tall, walk with head
up
– Wear good shoes
Sitting
– Feet flat on the floor or
foot rest.
– Support low back
Sleeping
– Sleep on side or back
– Don’t sleep on stomach
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Avoid Awkward Postures
• Awkward postures stress joints and tissues
encouraging injury
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Keep wrist in neutral position
Keep elbows close to the body
Maintain 90 to 100 degree bend at the elbow
Minimize reaching over shoulder height
If reaching over shoulder height, keep shoulders
back and down
Minimize forearm rotation
Minimize wrist side to side movements
Maintain correct sitting posture
Avoid bending forward at your back; use your
legs!
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OFFICE ERGONOMICS
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ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
SMALL TOOL USE
• FOAM ON FINGER
CONTACTS
• USE VARYING
FINGERS, WHOLE
HAND GRIP, OR
TWO HANDS
• ALTERNATE
HANDS
• KEEP OBJECTS
CLOSE
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
LAB
Use a footstool
if working close
to the ground or
to lessen need
for standing
while performing
a long task
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Other Factors
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Aerobic fitness
Muscular strength
Flexibility
Coordination
Excessive volume of activity
Inadequate recovery time
Chronic Illness (diabetes, low thyroid)
Smoking
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
What Else Can You Do?
Stay Healthy!
 Eat nutritious meals
 Exercise regularly
 Sleep until you’re rested
(7-8 hours)
 Manage stress
 Don’t let hobbies and
work tasks compete for
your energy and
recovery time
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
BMW Plant In Dingolfing,
Germany
• Production Workers-Aging -“Silver
Tsunami”. 21.6% over 65 by 2020
• Experience, patience, skill
• Less flexibility, strength and vision
• Could force workers to retire-BUT not
the solution-Social Contract!+ Not
enough younger worker to replace them
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
BMW
• Turned one assembly line olderaverage age 47- projected average in 7
yrs.
• Worker input for improvement
• Feet hurt- put in wooden floors and
special shoes
• Some place to sit- modified
Hairdresser’s chair
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BMW
• Some tools improved, bigger type on
computer screens
• About 70 small changes-to cut errors
and reduce Physical Strain
• Cost about $50K including lost time
• Productivity went up7%, absenteeism
below plant average, defect rate down
to ZERO
ALLIANCE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Thank You
Any Questions?
Val Kshirsagar PT,CHT,OCS
Physical Therapist
Alliance Occupational Medicine
315 South Abbott Ave., Milpitas
2737 Walsh Ave., Santa Clara
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