Are you experiencing discomfort and a significant drop in energy at the end of your shift? There are many reasons for this fatigue and pain, including stress levels at work, your diet, your physical condition, your injury history…but have you ever considered the impact of your work posture? Whether you work sitting or standing, bent over or squatting, these postures can become very restrictive if maintained over a long period of time. There are many ways of dealing with these sometimes very uncomfortable postural demands, such as the use of ergonomic stools.

This article will give you some pointers on how to choose some of the ergonomic stools available on the market.

Standing work

Some jobs require prolonged standing, such as salespeople, machine operators or assembly line workers. Standing in itself is not a problem, as it is a natural posture for humans to find themselves in. However, standing for several hours a day can lead to swelling in the lower limbs, lower back pain, joint stiffness and general muscle fatigue.

Given the negative impacts associated with this work posture, it is important to recognise that some solutions need to be put in place to support the well-being of these workers. Ergonomic sit-stand stools can be part of the solution to improving the working condition.

The use of an ergonomic sit-stand stool allows recovery between periods of prolonged standing. The idea is to alternate between the resting and standing positions in order to reduce back discomfort and reduce stress on the ankle, knee, hip and spine joints.

Office work

Working in front of a computer screen has increased dramatically in recent years and this has contributed to an increase in musculoskeletal disorders. Indeed, an inadequate sitting posture adopted on a daily basis can lead to significant muscular tension that can eventually develop into other major health problems. In light of these growing problems, the ergonomics industry has developed ergonomic stools to help reduce the impact of static sitting.

One such innovation is the ergonomic kneeling stool or Swedish seat. This type of stool offers an unconventional sitting posture, i.e. the user is on his or her knees and must keep the back straight. However, this type of ergonomic stool, although innovative, has some shortcomings. Firstly, some users report that the continuous pressure exerted on the knee joints can cause significant discomfort in the long term. In addition, this type of seat does not always offer back and lumbar support, which can lead to a stooped posture after several minutes of use.

Finally, choosing an ergonomic chair that offers an optimal comfort and adequate support for the back and upper limbs is the best option for avoiding discomfort. If your job requires you to sit in front of your screen all day, adopting good work habits to energise your tasks is your best ally.

Laboratory work

The risks associated with various laboratory practices are often attributed to the hazardous materials that are sometimes handled. However, it is important not to neglect the risks related to awkward postures, particularly in connection with prolonged standing. Indeed, there are many back and upper limb injuries in this type of work environment. In addition to ensuring that laboratory workers use proper work techniques, some lab chairs can help reduce the risk of discomfort and injury.

Again, ergonomic sit-stand stools can be very useful in laboratory positions that require a standing posture, normally consisting of high counters. Some sit-stand stools even offer a backrest, which can help reduce back discomfort and even make precision work easier. For superior comfort and optimal posture, high ergonomic stools with a footrest ring and backrest are a winning option. Indeed, this type of stool allows for greater variability in the adjustment of its components (seat, backrest, footrest ring, etc.), which makes it possible to adopt a comfortable posture for different types of morphology.

In conclusion, the use of ergonomic stools reduces the range of motion of the trunk, upper and lower limbs. In addition, they help to reduce discomfort, especially in the back. Training in the use of ergonomic stools in the workplace is also recommended to maximize the benefits and to notice a change in postural habits.