Occupational Therapy Institute
General Ergonomics Principles
Bending & Lifting
- Bend knees and keep back straight
- Lift by straightening the knees
- Use wide stance when lifting heavy items to give yourself a wider base of support
Carrying
- Carry items close to your body as opposed to carrying with your arms extended
- Hold items in front of you instead of on the hips or to the side of you
- Keep back straight and bend knees to place large objects down
Neutral Positions are the Safest
- As often as possible, keep joints in a neutral position to avoid pain
- At a desk, follow the 90-90-90 rule
- 90 degrees at the knees, hips and elbows
- A common site of pain is in the wrist, especially for office workers, so try to keep it in a neutral position when typing and using a mouse
Respect Pain
- If you are feeling pain, that is your body telling you that it needs a break
- Sharp, stabbing, or shooting pain means you should change positions right away
- Aching pain means you need to stretch and move your body in the opposite direction