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Cardio workout while typing? More companies buying posture-friendly furniture for staff

SINGAPORE – At the Singapore office of travel company TripAdvisor, all 180 desks are height-adjustable and staff may opt to stand, sit or use a gym ball while working. And in recent years, private physiotherapy group Core Concepts has invested a “sizeable amount” in equipment and changing the layout of its treatment rooms to reduce the risk of injury and strain for its employees.

A staff at TripAdvisor's Singapore office in Manulife Tower using a height-adjustable desk.

A staff at TripAdvisor's Singapore office in Manulife Tower using a height-adjustable desk.

SINGAPORE – At the Singapore office of travel company TripAdvisor, all 180 desks are height-adjustable and staff may opt to stand, sit or use a gym ball while working.

And in recent years, private physiotherapy group Core Concepts has invested a “sizeable amount” in equipment and changing the layout of its treatment rooms to reduce the risk of injury and strain for its employees.

It implemented the use of trolleys for heavier equipment and made changes to the layout of treatment rooms so that frequently used materials are within the physiotherapists’ reach. Chairs for administrative staff were upgraded from basic chairs to adjustable ergonomic ones two years ago.

The investment has been worth it, said Mr Victor Khoo, Core Concepts Group’s managing director.

“Across our (nine) clinics, we noticed a decrease in reports of staff experiencing musculoskeletal aches and missed work days due to injuries and strains. We also noticed a rise in productivity as they are not distracted by aches and strains that can affect overall mood and morale,” said Mr Khoo, whose company has 50 employees.

As more deskbound workers here experience painful disorders of the hand, arm, neck, shoulder and/or back – known as musculoskeletal disorders – that are linked to poor office ergonomics, some companies have adopted posture-friendly office furniture to improve employees’ health and welfare.

Retailers are seeing higher demand for ergonomic office furniture, and mass market furniture stores have also jumped on the bandwagon. IKEA, for instance, introduced a range of standing desks three years ago.

At ErgoWorks, the proportion of corporate clients seeking ergonomic office solutions have doubled in the last five years, the brand’s sales and marketing manager Alex Cheng told TODAY at the Occupational Safety+Health Exhibition for Asia last month. The event showcased smart technology and innovative solutions to improve workplace safety and health.

The growing interest has spurred ErgoWorks to offer a more varied range of novel products including active desks. For instance, in addition to its range of treadmill desks, it started offering desks attached to a stationary exercise bicycle this year.

The brand also carries a zero-gravity massage recliner, which allows the body to recline into a position that is supposedly the ideal for launching astronauts. It is currently priced at S$3,999, and some companies here have bought it for staff to take power naps, said Mr Cheng.

Ms Yuying Deng, chief executive and co-founder of Ideal Workspace, which developed and carries the Altizen smart standing desk, estimated that demand has increased 20 to 30 per cent each year in the last three years. Its range of standing desks start from around S$1,199.

Ergonomic office furniture is more expensive than regular office furniture as they allow users to customise them to their own comfort, and are generally of a higher quality to ensure years of usage, said Ms Deng.

PROLONGED SITTING LINKED TO HIGHER RISK OF DYING EARLY

Musculoskeletal injuries can occur due to prolonged awkward posture – such as having a static bent posture at work – performing repetitive tasks such as mouse-clicking, keyboard typing, the lifting and sorting of heavy items, or inadequate rest periods, said senior physiotherapist Bernadine Lim at Farrer Park Rehab Centre.

“When we work repetitively or are in an awkward posture for prolonged periods of time, it exceeds the body’s ability to match the load of the task. This results in excessive strain and can cause micro damages to the body’s structures,” said Ms Lim.

Last year, 799 cases of occupational diseases were confirmed last year, according to the 2017 Workplace Safety and Health report. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders made up 337 of these cases, of which 314 were back injuries due to ergonomic risks. The work-related musculoskeletal disorders occurred in the transport and storage, manufacturing and construction sectors, among others.

Those seeking treatment for work-related musculoskeletal conditions now form around 30 to 40 per cent of Ms Lim’s patients, up from 20 per cent five years ago.

Common complaints by deskbound office workers seen at Core Concepts include neck pain, followed by cervicogenic headaches (headaches that stem from pain in the cervical spine in the neck region) and lower back pain, said its senior principal physiotherapist Sylvia Ho.

The effects of spending long hours hunched over a laptop extend to the other aspects of health. A review of 47 studies published in Annals of Internal Medicine in 2015 found that people who sat for long periods of time had a higher risk of dying early from causes such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.

In a preliminary study published in April this year in Plos One, middle-aged and older adults who reported spending more hours sitting had reduced medial temporal lobe thickness. A decreased in volume of this part of the brain is linked to memory impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

Photo: TODAY / Nuria Ling

SHOULD YOU INVEST IN A STANDING OR ACTIVE DESK?

Despite the hype surrounding novel ergonomic products, whether standing, walking on treadmill or riding a bike is better than being seated at work remains inconclusive, experts said.

“Some studies show that standing desks lower the risk of weight gain, obesity and heart disease, lowers blood sugar levels, reduces back and neck pain, and may improve mood and energy levels. (But) using a standing desk or stationary cycle chair for the entire day of work may pose other health issues,” said Ms Lim.

This is especially if the individual does not maintain the optimal posture, does not have adequate rest or if the load of standing or cycling exceeds the body’s ability to cope, she said.

While a stationary cycle chair is a great way for people to pack in some cardio exercise at work, the downside is that it may require the user to get used to doing two things at the same time, which may be a challenge in the beginning, said Ms Ho.

People with different musculoskeletal issues will require different interventions, she added.

For example, while a person with a slouched C-shaped posture will benefit from a standing desk, someone who has lower back pain caused by activities like prolonged walking, running, standing and sitting upright may not benefit from it, said Ms Ho.

“This type of lower back pain is due to an excessively arched lumbar spine, and any activity that encourages the increase of the arch in the back will aggravate pain. A standing desk will put their back in an arched position, causing joint compression. Getting the person to sit relaxed into the back of the chair can alleviate their lower back pain,” said Ms Ho.

Some individuals with excessively arched posture, including pregnant women, men with big bellies or anyone with weak lower abdominal muscles, may not be comfortable using a standing desk, said Ms Ho.

 

LOW-COST METHODS AVAILABLE

While ergonomic gadgets and products can be beneficial, companies can make the most of what they have with simple measures, said Ms Ho.

For any work area, adjust the height of the desk to where the elbows can maintain a 90-degree angle to the work desk, said Ms Lim. Ensure the position of your computer screen is not less than the tip of your middle finger to your elbow, and tilt the monitor towards eye level, she said.

Other simple measures include placing a cushion on the chair to support the back, and using a small pillow to rest the wrist when typing or using a mouse.

Feet can be propped up using stools or reels of photocopying paper. Most office chairs are ergonomic as they are adjustable, but many people do not make use of the feature and adjust them to their correct height, said Ms Ho.

Adjunct Assistant Professor Alvin Ng of Jireh Heart Centre at Mount Elizabeth Novena Medical Centre advised workers to stay active during work hours and ensure sufficient exercise outside of work.

A useful way to incorporate activity into office hours is by walking up and down the stairwells of buildings during breaks, he said.

Ms Ho suggested taking breaks and moving away from your desk every hour, even for those with ergonomic work stations.

“At the end of the day, no matter how beneficial any position is, the person will be required to get up and move around. Our bodies need to move to encourage circulation,” she said.

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