Synovial Fluid—The Juice That Keeps You Loose Most of us don’t really think about how we’re able to reach for this or bend down to grab that. We just do it. We don’t think about all the intricate parts of our bodies and how each must work in concert just for us to stand up. […]
Work-related injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) disrupt an organization’s bottom line like nothing else. Besides being short-handed, this means employees are covering for their injured—and now absent—coworkers which keeps them from performing the tasks they’ve been charged with. Productivity and therefore, the bottom line, suffer.
So what can be done? Work-related injuries are just part of doing business, right? Not necessarily. By performing a few simple warm-up exercises, your employees can be on their way to an injury-free and productive shift.
When working in situations where at-risk behaviors exist, organizations must control the workplace environment by taking steps to keep their employees safe and healthy. While most of this can be accomplished through training, sometimes making physical changes to the work environment are the most effective to implement. However, those changes also can be cost prohibitive and impractical, which puts organizations between a rock and a hard place. (more…)
I am not ashamed to admit that I have become somewhat of a Kinesio tape connoisseur over the last few years. Much of my time has been spent on determining the most effective taping techniques, and which brand of tape satisfies my rigorous selection process best. People often ask me about the functionality of this material and the science behind it. My response is somewhat generalized and is a concoction of research-based evidence and patient feedback. The one concrete summation I can attest to is that there is a pain reduction element to almost every application I administer. The questions is, are these diminished discomfort levels a result of the physiological changes triggered by the tape and its specific application or are they a product of the placebo effect? (more…)
Stretching routines do not reduce injuries. At least that’s what several recent corporate health and wellness studies have shown—and it could be the primary reason so many corporate injury prevention programs are failing.
We now have more than 10 years of data to prove that low-impact exercise is vital to reducing injuries and maintaining a healthy workforce. Unfortunately, many physically demanding jobs can produce a high rate of injuries and other health-related problems. Some research even suggests that labor-intensive jobs can lead to a greater risk of heart disease. As many already know, staying active is key to a healthy heart and maintaining optimal energy levels. (more…)
In line with a growing emphasis on corporate health and wellness, there’s now an increasing awareness among occupational safety specialists and staff managers about the need to design workplaces that promote not only worker safety, but also health and happiness. This can lead to a more productive workforce, lower costly staff turnover and a more pleasant and vibrant work atmosphere.
With reference to a growing body of research that suggests the workplace environment can indeed have profound effects on employee health, satisfaction and output, here are four factors involved with achieving this goal in the context of the modern office. (more…)
We humans love tangible things—things we can touch, hold, and feel with our senses. Tangibles allow us to directly perceive, quantify, compare, and recognize patterns with more certainty. It often just feels better to make decisions based on solid, tangible evidence. It’s in our nature. (more…)
I would like to make a confession. I, a licensed Athletic Trainer and certified strength and conditioning specialist, have a hard time staying motivated and making it to the gym. My problem is not that I don’t know what to do (as pointed out by my credentials) but actually finding the time or drive. It wasn’t until I watched a TEDtalk that I realized my perception was skewed. The truth, I discovered, is that good health and fitness can be achieved throughout my day. I could get cardio from walking my dog around the neighborhood. Or, I could improve my muscular endurance when I’m carrying my groceries in or lifting my laundry up and down the stairs. I began to examine my daily activities. I realized that my health and fitness is not solely dependent on the time I spent at the gym. In actuality, it is the accumulation of my day and the healthy habits I create. So, being the goal oriented person that I am, I’ve decided to look for a way to track exactly how much activity I experience throughout my day. How could I continue to up my activity if I can’t track it or create an accurate benchmark? (more…)
I am often asked by the industrial employees I work with, “Did you have to go to school for this?” As much as I hate hearing this question, I understand where it’s coming from. Many times, the only contact the industrial workers have with me (or BIOKINETIX) is during our 90-Second Warm-Up or WOW1 presentations. I think it’s only natural to ask, in the ever so subtle way, why should I listen to you? That’s when I got to thinking… I wonder how often my co-workers get this same question? That is why I’m writing this post.