Ergonomics
“Not
everything that has an ‘ergonomic’ label is a useful
product; some are poorly designed and ultimately do more harm
than good. Even well designed ergonomic products can cause problems
when not used appropriately or correctly.”
At Ergonomic Comfort Design (ECD) we could not agree more with
this excellent statement. As the pace of change quickens in office
technology and workers spend more and more hours sitting in front
of a computer monitor, repetitive stress injuries are increasing
at an alarming rate. From a species of “hunters and gatherers”
we call homo sapiens, we are quickly becoming a species of “hunters
and peckers” called homocomputerists.
But ECD, over the past decade has worked closely with ergonomists,
physical therapists, risk managers and health and safety consultants
to create seating products that are part of the solution, not
part of the problem. ECD was one of the first to put seat sliders
on chairs, width and height adjustable arms, thoracic support
in the back cushions, memory foam in the seat cushions, and one
of the first to offer petite and large scale sized chairs for
the smaller and larger workers.
Sit
Happens
It has been documented that 70% of the office workforce sits all
day. Our bodies unfortunately, are not designed to sit. This 70%
has the most problems with neck, shoulder and back pain.
Why?
Most chairs in the market are simply designed poorly. Improper
concave back shapes giving no thoracic support, very little or
too much lumbar support, seat pans that do not adjust, and hard
seat cushion foam that quickly causes burning sensations.
What does a person sit on?
• The
two bony prominences called the Ischial tuberosites
•
The sacrum and
coccyx
•
The thighs
•
The fat and
muscles surrounding the bony structures
What happens when a person sits?
•
The skin begins
to react to gravity
•
The fat and
muscles under the Ischia slowly move out from under the Ischia
•
The skin under
the Ischia becomes thinner, this is called "core down"
•
The longer the
person remains seated, the more pronounced this condition becomes
Physiological
Changes While Seated
•
Ischial brusae
thicken to provide a cushion below the bone and very importantly
as a result of the tissue damage caused by shear force, prostaglandin
E2 is released, first locally and then systematically
•
This is a chemical
which contributes to depression, fatigue and sluggish reflexes
•
Since pressure
inhibits blood flow, the tissue immediately around the blood vessels
thickens to help keep them open
•
Lactic acid
concentrates in the muscles (no oxygen)
•
Water builds
up in the subcutaneous tissues (under the skin)
Six years ago ECD perfected a new seat cushion comprised of soft
“Memory Foam” and a high density foam core. This combination
gives our Quest, Vive’ and Trudeau series the most comfortable
“sit” while stabilizing the pelvic girdle.
Our Convex thoracic foam correctly positions the users head over
their shoulders and hips.
Thoracic support:
ECD’s Quest, Vive’ and Trudeau series are standard
with thoracic back foam as well as memory foam seats. Thoracic
foam is now optional on ECD’s other series. It fits between
the user’s shoulder blades and supports the mid to upper
back properly.
Contact ECD for the name and phone number of the representative
nearest you to try out these truly incredible sitting office chairs.
You will FEEL the DIFFERENCE.
