Sitting for Long Hours and its Effects Working at a Computer
Introduction
Technology is significant since it confers security in every area of life; either for personal or business reasons. The technology ensures that peoples’ lives remain and become easier (Andersson, Dasí, Mudambi, & Pedersen, 2016). The favourable cost of technology, coupled with knowledge of computer use, has made the device accessible to most homes and offices. The computer as a technological device has found a place in most of the fields, even the unexpected fields. No wonder the world is in an age of information technology.
Evolution of computers from the very large sizes during the pioneering information technology era to the recent personal digital assistance(PDA) age enhances their portability and storage (Zimmermann, 2017). The modern phones in the market are as good as the computers in terms of features. Life may not have a meaning without the use of computers. Computers are much accurate, can perform a lot of tasks efficiently and quickly. When it comes to data storage, its capacity is enormous. Manipulation of the data is possible so that one is working with the correct data. Computers have, therefore, become the tools of the trade-in most of the assignments.
Computers are operated while sitting down, therefore, requiring sitting hours commensurate to their hours of use (Carayon, 2016). Computers are useful in controlling large as well a small machine which initially was the work of humans. Computers have replaced the radios when listening to music as well as television sets when watching the news. Computers have brought an evolution in the world of communication. As opposed to the old days when the society depended on posting letters to pass information, this can currently be done using computers. Computers are fast as opposed to postal offices. Moreover, the computer offers several platforms from which one can communicate. Such platforms include electronic mails, Facebook, twitter, youtube, skype, zoom, among others (Vroman, Arthanat, & Lysack, 2015).
Definition of the Problem
Technology is significant since it confers security in every area of life. The technology ensures that peoples’ lives remain and become easier (Andersson, Dasí, Mudambi, & Pedersen, 2016). The computer as a technological device has found a place in most of the fields, even the unexpected fields. Computers are much accurate, can perform a lot of tasks efficiently and quickly. When it comes to data storage, its capacity is enormous. Manipulation of the data is possible so that one is working with the correct data.
Computers have brought an evolution in the world of communication. It is fast, efficient with many platforms for communication (Zimmermann, 2017). The communication platforms have forced many to remain glued to the computer at the expense of their body health. A study conducted by Laskowski (2016) for patients visiting Mayo clinic concluded that sitting for very long hours results in obesity and a host of other health conditions such as high blood pressure, hyperglycemia among others.
Daneshmandi, Choobineh, Ghaem and Karimi (2017) researched the adverse effects of prolonged sitting behaviour on the general health of office workers. Their findings revealed that sitting for long hours in the office could result in exhaustion of the staff during the period of working; job satisfaction could be affected, hypertension as well as Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) symptoms domiciled in the knees of people working in offices, their thighs, the lower back as well as the shoulders. Neville, Geneviève, Charles and David ( as cited in Synnott, Dankaerts, Seghers, Purtill & O’Sullivan, 2017) studied the effects of a dynamic chair on seated energy expenditure. Their findings were that mortality outcomes for individuals who have a lot of sitting time are significantly poorer in the long-term.
None of these studies has focused on the negative effects of sitting for long hours while working at a computer which this research endeavours to establish.
Proposal for Solution
Most people today have jobs that require long hours of sitting while facing a computer. The human body is not intended to remain in a single position for long periods as this can be harmful to the body. Woo, White and Lai (2016) conclude that the adoption of the correct posture for the body is critical to ensure that it remains in good health. Correct posture ensures that an individual’s bones, as well as the joints, are properly aligned, and, therefore, the workings of muscles become effective. Good posture prevents pinching of the nerves, thus alleviating pain localized within the shoulders, drooping and the writer’s cramp (Carayon, 2016).
The right sitting posture requires several measures: getting the right chair to maintain the correct sitting posture. Correct pelvic posture allows for maintenance of a straight spine and avoids drooping. Alignment of ears, shoulders as well as the hips. This maintains the naturally occurring curves of the spine, thus avoiding any stress due to the spine because of wrong positioning. The backrest of the chair should recline at the right angle of 100 or 110 degrees. This can be achieved using a small pillow (Mani, Provident & Eckel, 2016). The position of hands lower than the elbows with the fingers facing downwards and the keyboard tilting to a small degree away from an individual enhances the right position for the arms and keyboard.
The feet should touch the ground while resting on a flat surface. The computer screen should be at the same level as the eye to avoiding bending of an individual. The mouse should be placed by the side of the keyboard to ensure that one is not moving the hands around too much when working (Woo, White & Lai, 2016).
Implementation of Solution
When working, it is important to ensure that the working station is in order. Any work station that is not in order should be adjusted to avoid distressful positions and unnecessary movements (Woo, White & Lai, 2016). The main tools for working in an office are the desk and the computer. The height of the chair should be adjusted to ensure that the feet lie horizontally with the floor with the knees in line with the hips. Reclining of the chair at 100 to 110-degree angle ensures that one can sit straight with the hips at the rear of the chair.
The position of the desk should allow the eyes to be at the same level as the apex of the computer monitor. The hands should be relaxed, ensuring that they do not assume a curve shape, with the arms and floor parallel to each other. The position of the keyboard should be 1 to 2 inches above the thighs to ensure that the elbows bend to about 90 degrees and are also close to the sides (Carayon, 2016). Keyboard trays containing wrist supports should be in place to avoid wrist cramp as the wrist rests in a neutral position. The mouse should be close to the keyboard to avoid unnecessary movements of the hands.
Outcomes
Good management of the working environment improves productivity. Tremblay et al. (2017) note that job designs that enhance the correct posture reduces physical effort together with movement and allows for better heights, as well as reaches, allows for an efficient working station. Reduction of operational costs is key to any business. The good working environment ensures that employees do not suffer MSDs, which may trigger employee compensation (Mani, Provident & Eckel, 2016).
Healthy employees ensure that no working days are lost.
The good working environment ensures that employees do not suffer much frustrations and fatigue. Such employees can give their best to their assigned tasks. If the job weighs physically on the employee, their performance may not correlate with their training. There is an improved engagement of the employee. Employees can tell when the business is working to ensure that their health and safety is secured.
A relaxed working environment ensures that incidences of employee turnover and absenteeism as the morale gets a boost. Good working environment results in a culture of safety which should be entrenched within the business core values a. Woo, White and Lai (2016) conclude that a healthy and secure employee improves the performance of the business. A healthy employee is the best asset that any business can ever have.
In conclusion, the revolution brought by computers is immense and cannot be understated. Work can be done faster and efficiently. People can work together as a group though they are dispersed, locally, regionally as well as globally. Data stored in computers can be retrieved easily. However, the use of computers requires one to be sitting down. Working hours on the computer can range from few to many hours, depending on the volume of work. The long working hours are detrimental to body health if a proper working environment is not available. Most conditions are muscular, while others include hyperglycaemia and hypertension. These conditions may impact negatively on staff motivation, job satisfaction, as well as retention.
In cognizance of this fact, every working environment should be supportive of the employee to enhance productivity, improve employee motivation while reducing turnover. Every employee should feel healthy and secure while working. A working environment where computers are at use can be improved through improving desks and sit designs to ensure that the person working with the computer is at the same height as the computer. The positioning of the hands and legs while working with the computer should ensure that no unnecessary strain gets to the hands and legs.
References
Andersson, U., Dasí, Á., Mudambi, R., & Pedersen, T. (2016). Technology, innovation and knowledge: The importance of ideas and international connectivity. Journal of World Business, 51(1), 153-162.
Carayon, P. (Ed.). (2016). Handbook of human factors and ergonomics in health care and patient safety. CRC Press.
Daneshmandi, H., Choobineh, A., Ghaem, H., & Karimi, M. (2017). Adverse effects of prolonged sitting behavior on the general health of office workers. Journal of lifestyle medicine, 7(2), 69.
Laskowski, E. R. (2016, August). Walking throughout your day keeps depression (and a host of other health problems) away. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 91, No. 8, pp. 981-983). Elsevier.
Mani, K., Provident, I., & Eckel, E. (2016). Evidence-based ergonomics education: Promoting risk factor awareness among office computer workers. Work, 55(4), 913-922.
Synnott, A., Dankaerts, W., Seghers, J., Purtill, H., & O’Sullivan, K. (2017). The effect of a dynamic chair on seated energy expenditure. Ergonomics, 60(10), 1384-1392.
Tremblay, M. S., Aubert, S., Barnes, J. D., Saunders, T. J., Carson, V., Latimer-Cheung, A. E., … & Chinapaw, M. J. (2017). Sedentary behavior research network (SBRN)–terminology consensus project process and outcome. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 14(1), 75.
Vroman, K. G., Arthanat, S., & Lysack, C. (2015). “Who over 65 is online?” Older adults’ dispositions toward information communication technology. Computers in Human Behavior, 43, 156-166.
Woo, E. H. C., White, P., & Lai, C. W. K. (2016). Ergonomics standards and guidelines for computer workstation design and the impact on users’ health–a review. Ergonomics, 59(3), 464-475.
Zimmermann, K. A. (2017). History of computers: A brief timeline. Live Science.