Postural strain refers to muscular injury or discomfort arising from maintaining a posture for a period of time. A posture refers to an arrangement of the body trunk, limbs and head in order to complete a task. Postures can be more static, such as in typing or reading, or more dynamic in the case of manual handling, or carrying. Just like muscular strain, regardless of whether the body is supporting its own weight alone or is supporting external weight, the body is under tension from maintaining the position of these loads against gravity. This is exactly the same as the dose of resistance applied to a segment, limb, or joint during resistance exercise. When the exposure of a body segment to load occurs repeatedly over time in the case of small doses, or intensely over a short time in the case of a large dose of load, the body is placed under stress. Over a long period or short period, this stress can exceed the body's ability to recover over the long period or overload its ability to perform in the short term. Where physical capacities are exceeded to the extent to cause discomfort, irritation and then injuries arise.
Postural strain may arise from supported postures where the weight of the body is partially or fully supported by apparatus, which is typically furniture. In these cases, the body is not moving or moving very little, and is supported. This is most common in desk work, driving, or in equipment operation. In these cases, postural strain may occur in the neck, shoulders, arms and lower back as these segments may be moving without any kind of additional movement from the rest of the body. This has the effect of concentrating muscular action in those muscle segments that are responsible for completing the movement. Examples of this are wrist and hand pain in desk workers, neck pain in readers, and foot and ankle pain in equipment drivers. In drivers as well, the effect of vibration transmitted through the body via contact with the driver seat can also cause increasing physical discomfort that may worsen that already caused by postural strain.
Postural strain may arise from unsupported but still static postures where the weight of the body is not supported by apparatus or furniture, but where the body is not moving or minimally moving. This is common in job roles that require standing or sitting in place with less support, as well as some movement. Examples of this include an architect leaning over a drafting table, a worker standing at a checkout aisle or counter, or in customer service. In these cases, the lack of support for the body, in large or small part, means that more or fewer additional postural muscles are used to support the weight of the body and hold it in position. This places specific strain on those muscles responsible for maintaining posture which, if not relieved of their work with a postural break or some other relaxation, may become fatigued, increasingly painful, and may cause other postural compensation strategies that may introduce more problems.
Postural strain may also arise from unsupported moving postures where a person needs to move around and change their position during their work, as may be seen during construction work, child-care, gardening, and other physically involved work. In these cases, despite the more active changes in position of the limbs, the trunk, and the joints, the movement between postures places strain on muscles in a similar manner to manual handling, though strain may occur if a movement is repeated multiple times, if a movement is forceful, if an awkward posture is needed to facilitate handling of a tool or plant, or for other factors.
Each workplace is different, with different demands, methods of business, and is staffed by people whose capacities, needs, and risk profiles are different. Managing ergonomic, environmental, and occupational health and safety challenges requires a business to examine and engage with the ecosystem of factors that give rise to risk, and how that risk may affect people. Each workplace is different and so sometimes the same problem will require different solutions. This applies to workers as well - every person is different and so may require different support, supervision, or resources to perform comfortably and sustainably. Under Work Health and Safety law, consultation with the workforce, the control of risk as far as is reasonably practicable, and the provision of information, training, instruction and support to the worker by the workplace, is essential to meet obligations to provide workers with a workplace that is as free of risk as far is reasonably practicable.
In our capacity as consultants, Atlas Physio will explore and scope the business and its needs, examining how exposures, risks, and processes contribute to the hazard ecosystem, best inform the design and arrangement of procedural, policy-based, and practical risk controls. Our solutions are tailored to the needs of those with whom we work, implemented in a simple, sustainable, and supportive fashion, designed to be robust and resilient, and to support the ongoing life of the business as well as the sustainable wellbeing of the workers who undertake the day to day activities of work.
At Atlas Physio, we provide reporting, structured control, and ongoing management of risk onsite, on the road, and wherever work is done. We are open seven days a week, and are happy to offer a brief complimentary discussion to explore the needs of your business and your workers if you are an employer, and your needs if you are a worker. Reach out today to arrange a discussion and take the first step toward managing risk and working safely, supported by expertise that is practical, reliable, and designed to deliver lasting results.