What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the study of adapting working conditions, such as the products one uses and one's environment, to the human being.

Can Poor Posture Affect Our Health?

"For the organs to function effectively, the whole structure of the musculo-skeletal system is important.
If one does not use the body correctly over a long period of time, back and neck pain can occur. This is why it is important that children develop good habits in sitting, standing and the use of their own bodies."

- Dr David Tio

Osteopathic Treatment Centre

Singapore

The Effects Of Poor Postures

Back Pain

Back pain and injury can be caused by excessive deformation and pressure of the discs.

Poor Blood Circulation
Sitting on high chairs increases pressure on the femoral vein wall in the back of the thigh. This can be a cause of blood clotting in the veins of the legs.

Breathing

Slouched posture makes the heart and lungs less efficient and concentration may be affected.

Heart

Slouching at the desk increases the pressure inside the chest. This may cause the heart to work harder to pump blood through the lungs.

Cervical Spine

The neck has the least pressure when the head is in an upright position, where it is well-balanced. It is noted that with good posture, the centre of gravity is situated within the spinal column, such that body weight is distributed evenly along all vertebrae. With poor posture, the center of gravity is projected forward and that places strain on the neck muscles, shoulders, the vertebrae of the neck and lower back, and on the stomach.

Poor posture leads to fatigue more quickly, it strains ligaments and bones in young children and it interferes with respiration, heart action and digestion.

Ergonomic Workstation:

How It Helps

What the Doctors Recommend

Dr David Tio

An Osteopath for 20 years in the local Osteopathic Treatment Centre, said that he sees, "...bad posture being encouraged right from childhood." He agrees that an inclined table top is good for posture. He said when using one, you "are looking upward and your neck is not bent forward." He endorses and fully supports Moll Office System.

Dr Jean Alston
Dr Jean Alston revealved in her book, "The Art of Handwriting", that a healthy sitting posture helps children to avoid developing hand-writing difficulties. Ideally, there should be tables and chairs of suitable heights for each age group. Sloping writing surfaces that have been tested to be beneficial should be included if possible.

Children and Teenagers
Children are most prone to severe backache in the later stage of their lives when they study on table set too high for them and carry heavy books on their lower back. According to recent surveys, 35% - 40% of all the children between the ages of 4 and 15 have bad posture, 27% have chronic muscle tension, back pain and headaches or poor leg circulation. A common cause for this is sitting incorrectly, which is often the result of poorly designed furniture. Table and chair at wrong height causes arm, hand and eye discomfort. It also increases the risk of blood clot forming under the thigh.

If a child adopts a poor posture for many years, these features will become permanent as the bones harden towards adulthood. Because of the softness of children's bones, continued pressure or a wrong posture can easily deform them.

Adults
Health problems in the workplace, associated with sitting in a fixed posture, have made some private sector businesses realize that content, pain-free employees will be motivated, productive and less absence. If by providing a good work-station, workers can be more productive, more fulfilled, have better concentration and reduced fatigue and discomfort levels.

The Ideal Workstation

A design only suiting the designer or an 'average' person will not necessarily suit all people, especially growing children. Optimal ergonomics and the best foundation for the health of our young ones can only be guaranteed at all stages of growth by desks and chairs that grows too. It makes sense to buy height adjustable furniture to fit growing children.

Moll Das Office System. Made in Germany since 1974

Suitable for user of height 100cm to 190cm. Height adjustable workstation 'grows' with your child through teenage years and on to adulthood.

Moll Das Office System was designed in close cooperation with ergonomics experts and orthopaedic specialists. Table top can incline to provide sloping writing surface and tables have height adjustable legs. Flexibility on the adjustments allows one to adjust height of table and chair according to the body and leg length to promote correct sitting posture. Sloping writing surface reduces sight distance and gives a more direct angle of view. This allows one to write with a straight back with head held erect naturally, without restraint.

Moll PC Desk fulfils all the requirements of an ergonomically optimal computer workspace for children and adults. Each system is adjustable in height. The adjustable monitor support has 45 angle variations to cater from a flat monitor to a 20' monitor. It ensures optimal comfort yet do not compromise on international requirement for visual angle of 30 degrees at a minimum of 50cm distance.

Endorsed and Recommended by: