Good posture means more than just sitting up straight, particularly when talking about protecting workers from work-related musculoskeletal disorders. To better understand the role posture plays in work-related injuries, it may be beneficial to look at an overview of how sustained posture affects the musculoskeletal system.

Because the body is designed to be in motion, sustained posture -- simply standing or sitting in an unchanging position for an extended period of time -- puts tremendous strain on the musculoskeletal system, which must work to keep an upright position.  As the muscles contract to hold the body in position, tendons are pulled and joints are compressed. 
 

This work leads to a reduction of the blood supply to these tissues, and causes a buildup of waste products, which in turn irritates the tissue, causing inflammation and pain. When muscles, tendons and joints in the arm are doing repetitive motions, such as moving products across the checkout scanner, friction can wear on the tissue and structures, resulting in damage. The body can't repair this damage because muscles contracting in the neck and shoulder area compress blood vessels in the arm.

Good posture ensures that muscles will get adequate blood supply. It allows the muscles to eliminate waste, receive vitamins and minerals, and repair damage that might have been caused by stress. Good posture helps the body work more effectively.
 
 

Key ingredients to good posture include: Sitting or standing tall Keeping the ears over the shoulders Keeping the shoulders over the hips Holding the head straight, not tilted Positioning the head over the neck, not forward when looking down.

 

Bad posture habits that increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury include:
 

Slouching, which puts stress on the spine and over-stretches support muscles to the spine, which can result in herniated discs and carpal tunnel syndrome

Don't Slouch

Don't Push Your Head Forward

Pushing the head forward beyond the plane of the shoulders forces the neck muscles to strain, which restricts blood flow and places pressure on the nerves. This results in headaches and pain in the arm and hands.

Rounding the shoulders, which puts stress on the shoulder tendons, and tightens the upper arm muscles, possibly leading to shoulder impingement syndrome or carpal tunnel syndrome

Don't Round Your Shoulders

Don't Work in an Awkward Position

Standing in an awkward position, such as a position that causes your weight to be unevenly distributed   Reaching to one side and exerting force

Holding the head in an awkward or twisted position.

Don't Hold Your Head in an Awkward Position