Welcome to the Strictly Natural Ergonomics Department also known as the Workplace Health Corner

There are so many sites about RSI, CTS, CTD and lots of other hot health acronyms, that I am pleased to welcome you to our A.J.F.U.F.W.S (abbreviation and jargon free, user-friendly web site).

My name is Dr. Aaron Weitz; I run a family oriented chiropractic clinic in Richmond Hill, Ontario.  In my practice I am seeing more cases of work related, specifically computer work related, repetitive strain than ever before, and this has me worried.

A few years ago I was asked to present a series of workshops entitled “Ergonomics in the Workplace” to the employees of a local company.  I agreed right away figuring I could probably wing it. Those next few weeks are now a blur, as I had to spend every moment of my free time, and many of what should have been sleeping moments, researching, designing, and producing a workshop that would deliver a lasting preventive message. 

Things went great, and before I knew it I was giving more of these seminars.  That’s when I realized something was wrong.  Almost no one was conscious of how they used their body at work!  I thought it was simply that they didn’t care, but how could that be?  Then it dawned on me, no one could fathom that what they were doing, (for example, sitting in front of a keyboard), could in any way be dangerous.  In fact, the instant I would say “dangerous” I’d lose half my audience.  I felt like a hypnotist.  Their minds couldn’t reconcile “danger” with computers.  With this new insight into workplace psychology I changed my workshop to “The Dangers That Lurk In Your Workplace”.  That got their attention!

On a regular basis I am going to present real situations that I’ve encountered in my clinic and on-site in workplaces, with possible remedies for each problem.  This is so that you can get a different perspective on what you may be subjecting your body to.  I hope this will help you to prevent what all too often becomes serious injury.

Finally, because this site is for you, the reader, I welcome your feedback and ideas.

Injury Case Study Number 1