Office managers are just now finding out what chiropractors have known for a long time, that the ergonomics of office furniture—chairs, desks, and computer stations—have a direct effect upon workers’ health and productivity.

In past years, chiropractors have witnessed a trend in which office-related pains have changed from traditional lower back problems to “modern” computer-induced upper back and neck problems.

Because of increased attention paid to ergonomics, office interior designers also have adapted office layouts that now include space for ergonomic considerations.

“There’s a larger percentage of people with office related pain that come into my office” than in the past, said Dr. Franklin Forman, a practitioner at Chiropractic Medicine and Associates in Wheaton. Board certified in occupational health, he estimates that 40 percent of his patients have pain associated with work-related problems, often from bad posture.

“Years ago 80 percent of the people coming into the office had lower back problems,” Forman said. “Now, 50 percent come in with upper back and neck problems.”

The diagnosis is that too many office workers work on laptop computers— not desktops—that workers don’t stretch before work and that they live otherwise sedentary lifestyles.

“People have to consider themselves when they’re at their jobs as if they are athletes,” said Forman. “It’s important to stretch prior to and during the job just as an athlete does a pre and post stretch during an event.”

His recommendation is to take appropriate breaks during work and to do stretching exercises with arms and the upper body. Not only will this alleviate pain, but stretching also has been proven to increase energy and lower stress as well.

The type of computer one works on also has an affect on one’s posture. The ergonomic setup of a computer work area, then, is very important, said Forman.

“Laptop computers as opposed to more stationary computers cause problems,” Forman said. With laptops, the tendency is to bring one’s head forward, to hunch over and, in so doing, harm the neck.

“Good posture is with your arms to your side, elbows at 90 degrees and wrists in a neutral posture,” stressed the chiropractor. Unfortunately, laptop users often fail to work in this manner, making laptops more harmful than their desktop counterparts.

That is bad news for office workers. According to recent data published by the research firm Current Analysis, market share of desktop computers is being edged out by laptops. Businesses are now purchasing more laptops for their employees than desktops. Those working on laptops, then, will be wise to use proper posture, stretching and have active lifestyles to ensure their health.

In addition to chiropractors, interior design firms also are seeing increased attention paid to office ergonomics.

M. Grace Sielaff, owner of interior design firm M. Grace Designs, has noticed clients asking for more ergonomic designs and materials.

“Ergonomics has to do with the form of our body, and everything is important,” said Sielaff. “The setup of computers, the setup of desk, the setup of chairs, whether you have lumbar support. All affect productivity.”

M. Grace Designs takes this into account when designing office spaces.

“When you sit down a lot of people slouch, so if we know that workers are on a computer a lot, we give them ergonomic chairs,” said Sielaff, noting that workers who commonly are “slouching, unhappy, calling in sick all the time” often experience renewed productivity with ergonomic seating.

Multinational companies are also trying alternative methods of seating in an attempt to curb back-related pain.

Last summer, Sprint Nextel Corp. introduced large exercise balls—to replace traditional chairs—in some of its offices. The aim was to promote better posture, better mobility and to inspire creativity among its employees.

Companies looking for more traditional ways to promote ergonomic workspaces have alternatives as well, said Forman.

“If it’s a large company there are people with (a) human resources (department) that make the rounds and look at ergonomic considerations,” he said.

“Small to medium sized companies don’t have these specialists, but there are a number of people who can be called in for that problem, or there are doctors to have occupational health degrees that go into a company to review work place standards that all have to do with physical and mental stresses at the workplace.”

In addition to saving the health of their employees, companies also have another incentive for creating ergonomic spaces.

“It saves long-term costs significantly,” said Forman. “It saves direct costs by lowering workers’ compensation injuries at the workplace. It sends a signal to the employee that the employer cares about their wellbeing. So it builds employee loyalty.

“And because a person is working at 100 percent efficiency and not in an impaired situation where there is either wrist, neck, or shoulder pains, then their output is better.”