Posture and ergonomics at work

Tommaso Dose
Postura ed ergonomia sul lavoro
0 comments
Prevention and safety in the workplace are always topical issues, especially when one thinks of jobs in which the body is subjected to a lot of stress and stress.

This is why it is important to deepen the issue. We continue to do so by talking about posture and ergonomics with Francesco Rosso, kinesiologist.

What does ergonomics mean?

The word derives from the Greek and means "to manage the work", or to obtain the maximum result with the minimum effort. A concept that we can translate with the idea of ​​not getting hurt in the workplace. This definition also matches the way our body works,

Ergonomics also means maintaining the correct posture, in the workplace and in daily life, based on what we are doing.

What is the definition of posture?

Searching on Google for the meaning of posture, numerous definitions are proposed, all different and all in some way correct.

Posture is how our body adapts to the environment in which it lives. It is the position that we must maintain for a given action.

This definition also tells us that posture is the modality, the strategy that our body adopts to counteract the force of gravity. If we didn't have a posture, muscles would be a shapeless mass on the ground.

Instead we manage to stand up, we manage to jump, in short, to defeat the force of gravity for a short period of time. Getting off the ground for a jump, for example, requires a certain posture that expresses the way our body counteracts the force of gravity.

It is no coincidence that all postural muscles are also defined as anti-gravity muscles, because they keep us straight by counteracting the force of gravity.

Another definition tells us that posture is an individual integrated function on which the psyche and body act.

So the posture we assume depends on:

  • from the attitude and physical conformation.There are those who have flat feet, barbed ready feet, scoliosis and so on. Everyone is different with infinite variables
  • from psychological conditions we are experiencing. Even just by observing a person on the street, from how he moves I can guess if there is something wrong.

To summarize the different concepts we can give a definition that encompasses everything: posture has an individual integrated function on which psyche, body and external environment act with infinite variables.

In short, posture is not just about standing straight with your back and the field of application is very wide. The eyes, the inner ear - where the balance organs are located -, feet and knees can interfere with posture.

Muscle contractures, surgeries, injuries and scars also affect posture and therefore all of these things must be taken into consideration.


How to adopt a good posture?

It is difficult to identify all the specific cases, but we can give some examples to understand how to improve posture, especially when we face physically exhausting jobs.

Posture: useful tips for a welder

Depending on the job he has to do, the welder will take different positions. In general, the position a welder is most often in involves keeping the neck bent to look down.

Here are some tips for improving posture:
  • raise the workbench so that your back is more upright and weld without being bent over. Two pieces of wood under the station, maybe he raises it a little and we have already solved the problem
  • do a self-massage of the neck every 20 to 30 minutes. Just put your hands behind your neck, placing your fingers on the cervical vertebrae and move your hands forward, sliding to the sides of the neck. This movement reforms the physiological cervical lordosis and the pressure of the fingers dissolves muscle tension.
  • another exercise, always to be repeated every 20, 30 minutes, is to look away and look into the distance, just look out the window. This is the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds, look 20 meters away. Also ideal for those who work long hours on the computer to relax their eyes.

Posture: useful tips for a house painter

Let's assume a house painter who has to whitewash a ceiling, will find himself all the time with his neck bent back and his gaze turned upwards. This position implies a single curve of the back and therefore a resistance equal to 2.

An excellent advice is to alternate the painting of the ceiling and walls, so as to reform the physiological curves of the back. In short, alternate to relieve.

Posture: useful tips for a turner

Those who work on the lathe, in the laboratory, in some ways find themselves in a condition similar to the welder. Again a lot depends on the height of the lathe.

Here are some tips for improving posture:

  • if it is not possible to lower the lathe, a small step or a small rise can be used to compensate for the height of the lathe

  • in addition to the cervical, the lower back is also compromised, to remedy this problem take a small rise and place one foot on it. In this way the weight and the load of the body is discharged along the leg and therefore to the ground. Every now and then he changes his leg and continues to work

  • if the workstation is close to the wall, lean against the wall so that you are almost seated. A support such as a very high stool can also be useful.


Beyond this overview, don't forget that each case is unique. If you want more detailed and personalized information, you can find Francesco Rosso on the website or on Instagram and Facebook.

Leave a comment

All comments are moderated before being published