Posted on 04/10/2002 12:22:48 PM PDT by diotima
Beating out every health problem from depression to allergies, back pain ranks at the top of student-reported health complaints, according to the latest data from the Student Health Center.
Forty-five percent of the 510 students surveyed said they had experienced back pain within the last school year.
Experts attribute back pain in the college years primarily to prolonged immobility and incorrect posture.
"It's cool just to slouch," said Eric Lim, a freshman majoring in computer science. "You don't want to be all uptight."
Poorly designed seating in USC lecture halls, classrooms and computer workstations also contributes to back pain among students, said Mansour Rahimi, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering.
"If I'm typing on my computer for a while, it hurts a lot," said Delaney Gerlich, a freshman majoring in environmental studies who often uses a rolled-up sweatshirt around her waist when sitting for extended periods of time.
Rahimi said USC should keep ergonomics in mind when designing student facilities. Ergonomics is the science of designing and arranging one's workspace to reduce fatigue and discomfort.
"If the data indicates there is a need from the student health point of view, I think USC must take that very seriously and move in that direction," he said.
Jeremy Porte, a senior majoring in music recording, agreed that ergonomics should be considered, especially in student housing.
"The mattresses (at Troy Apartments) are not firm enough," he said. "They don't offer good support."
Back pain is caused by repeated strain on the back muscles and results from assuming a position other than the natural S-curve of the spine, Rahimi said.
When sitting at a desk, feet should be flat on the floor to minimize stress on the lower back, and knees should be at the same height as or lower than the hips, said Julie McLaughlin Gray, instructor of clinical occupational therapy.
At a computer, an individual's arms should be extended horizontally toward the keyboard, and the individual should look up at the screen at a 15-degree angle, Rahimi said.
When leaning forward in a chair, one should lean from the hips, not from the back, said Rob Landel, associate professor of clinical physical therapy. In an ideal sitting position, a person should be able to firmly press down on the seated individual's shoulders, and the back should not give at all, he added.
Rahimi said ergonomic chairs, keyboards and other accessories are all designed to enhance the position of the musculoskeletal system.
Quality ergonomic chairs may cost $300 or more, but the investment is often worth it for those with back problems, Landel said.
For example, the online store PC Comfort sells chairs specially designed to reduce back pain for $224 to $274.
Joseph C. Phillips, founder of PC Comfort, said his chairs slant forward at a 7.5-degree angle, distributing upper-body weight down along the length of the legs rather than against the back.
Phillips added that these ergonomic chairs mimic the posture that one attains when sitting on the edge of a desk. Just as body weight is not concentrated on the back in this position, the chairs also have the ability to eliminate body weight on the back, he said.
"When you sit in a high-dollar ergonomic chair, it's like someone strapped you in (with) good posture," he said.
But less expensive modifications to one's workspace can often accomplish the same thing, McLaughlin Gray said. For example, a high-end ergonomically designed chair can cost as much as $1,000 or more, but placing a lumbar pillow on a standard chair can offer similar benefits.
Tilt boards, which are placed on a desktop to provide an angled surface on which to write or read, may also reduce back and neck strain, she added.
McLaughlin Gray stressed that individuals should not remain immobile, especially when seated, for extended periods of time.
"People feel they have to be entirely done (with a task) before they can take a break," she said. "Once every hour, say, you should change your position."
This guy called me on Monday. I never thought I get this much ink.
Maybe I can get an invite to speak on their campus and sell them the principles of liberty , while I sell them the Phillips Principle chair. : )
In many work settings it's next to impossible to find a chair that is safe to sit on, much less one that is ergonomic. Once had a co-worker who asked the administrator who she had to sleep with to get a decent chair--and that was in a hospital.
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