Kathi Fairbend, writing in Law Office Management

 
 
SPECIAL CONSULTATIONS AND SEMINARS FOR ATTORNEYS AND LAW FIRMS
Designed to help attorneys, paralegals, and law firm support staff to avoid or relieve back and neck pain. For information, email Kathi Fairbend, fairbendpt@aol.com.

Lawyers Weekly
Law Office Management

Health In The Workplace

Taking Care Of That Pain In The Neck

by Kathi Fairbend

Law firms not excluded, companies spend billions of dollars each year on health care for injuries sustained in the workplace. As a result, workers' compensation costs have increased dramatically over the past several years and many companies have taken steps to reduce their rising health care premiums. One of the most effective methods is to invest in preventive programs for employees.

Preventive Education

It is a common misconception that back pain and Cumulative Trauma Syndrome (CTS) -- two of the most common and costly problems -- are irreversible conditions. With treatments and preventative education, they both can be resolved. One of the most important facets in the prevention and education of back and neck pain and CTS is ergonomics. Although the term "ergonomics" has recently gained popularity, it has been in use since the mid-1800s. Ergonomics is defined as the relationship between an individual and his or her working environments. The science of ergonomics is composed of physiological, psychological, biomechanical and environmental factors. The biomechanical and environmental factors provide the keys to understanding how to prevent back and neck pain and CTS. It is important to examine one's worksite to find the most ergonomically correct setup. Often, the adjustment of a chair to the correct height or the repositioning of a monitor can cause significant and immediate improvement.

A look into the history of CTS reveals that, like ergonomics, it is not a new issue. It was first defined in 1717 as an occupational disease. However, it was not until 1958 when Japan recognized it as a national problem that it achieved worldwide recognition. CTS includes problems such as thoracic outlet syndrome, tendonitis and tennis elbow, but the most commonly known form is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Any repetitive motion -- like typing -- can cause irritation in the tendons, which in turn become inflamed. This swelling compresses the space for the median nerve, which produces Carpal Tunnel Syndrome -- a painful, if not disabling, problem. Secretaries and other support staff are most at risk as they spend a large portion of their day working at a computer.

Leading Causes of Absenteeism

Attorneys are likely to experience back and neck pain as they tend to sit at their desks for extended periods of time. The compression force on the lower back is 100 pounds greater when sitting than when standing. Back pain is the leading cause of absenteeism in the workplace and is a more frequent complaint than the common cold. More than 50 percent of all Americans have experienced either back or neck pain at some point in their lifetime.

Again, back and neck pain, like CTS can be prevented by good biomechanics and posture. Posture is considered to be the proper use of one's body during all activities of daily living (i.e., standing, sitting, exercising, typing.) Poor posture creates a tremendous amount of stress on the body, which then produces weakness and fatigue. Musculature and tissues need a balance of strength and uses as well as use and rest. For example, if one had bad posture and takes few or no breaks throughout the course of a day, the likelihood of injury is much greater than if one rests occasionally during the day and utilizes good ergonomics. This also holds true for home activities. If one types continually during work hours and then goes home to work on a construction project that involves hammering, the risk of injury is great. Typing and hammering are two repetitive motion activities and the wrists and hands are given no time to rest. The same principle applies to those who work at a computer all day and then play a musical instrument. In any activity, whether work of play, one should listen to the body's response.

It is important to remember that pain is a protective mechanism. If pain occurs, stop and rest. Continuing the activity with pain will only cause further problems and thereby decrease one's overall productivity in the long run.

Understanding The Problem

Often, an explanation of the anatomical aspect of a problem provides one with a greater appreciation for the factors that contribute to an injury. There are some people who are structurally predisposed to a particular problem. For instance, any curvature of the spine (i.e., scoliosis or lordosis) will create inherent weakness in the back. Sitting or lifting can then aggravate a pre-existing condition. For those people who have a small bone structure, and thus have small wrists, the likelihood of CTS is greater since the space for the median nerve is already tight. Any swelling in that space will invariably produce symptoms. With those guidelines established, employees can learn various exercises to do in the office that increase strength and circulation and decrease the potential for injury.

'Industrial Athletes'

Employees are often referred to as "industrial athletes", emphasizing their need and responsibility to be fit for work. By learning some simple exercises and positioning oneself correctly at a workstation, the opportunity for injury decreases dramatically. With the incidence of work related injuries rapidly increasing, employees should be instructed in long term care, not "Band-Aid" like solutions.

It is far less costly to educate employees in prevention than to pay for workers' compensation and suffer from a long-term decrease in productivity.

Kathi Fairbend, M.S., a registered physical therapist in private practice since 1963, focuses on the prevention of Cumulative Trauma Syndrome and back and neck pain both with her individual and corporate clients. She has held seminars and performed worksite evaluations for a number of Boston area clients

Reprinted with permission from Lawyers Weekly Publications, Boston Massachusetts, 800-444-5297

ABA Journal

Aye, There's The Rub

"In her one-hour program, [Fairbend discusses] what lawyers and their support staffs can do to relieve back and neck pain along with tips for avoiding it entirely.

"She also makes an evaluation of the workplace to alert management to environmental or interior design flaws that may contribute to employees' physical stress.

...

"Fairbend encourages lawyers to move around at least once every 35 to 40 minutes. Standing up to answer the telephone or switching to a stand-up desk--which is becoming popular in law offices as a supplement to sit-down desks--are two possibilities that allow attorneys to keep working with consideration for their backs' health."

781.899.6289 fairbendpt@aol.com