THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 1994 ARTICLE "WORKPLACE RULES FOR THE SEDENTARY" BY BOBBI P. MARKOWITZ.

The millions of Americans who earn a living while sitting at desks may find
their jobs are hazardous to their health. Their sedentary work habits can
cause a number of physical ailments.

Ergonomics is the science of the anatomic, physiologic, psychological and
mechanical principles affecting the efficient use of human energy at work.
It also plays an important role in the design of office machines and the
planning of office space.

Chairs, desks and other furniture should be designed for comfortable use.
Proper lighting, appropriate room temperature and noise control are also
important. Studies have shown that well-designed equipment and office space
and cutting back on physical and mental stress contribute to increased
productivity as well as decreased health care costs.

Dr. Michael Beneat, a chiropractic physician in Darien, CT, is an occupational
health consultant with a special interest in ergonomics. In addition to
addressing the issue of work-related injuries with his patients, Dr. Beneat
frequently speaks to corporate employees and schoolchildren on how to
improve posture and other habits that affect physical well being.

Dr. Beneat discussed ergonomics during an interview, excerpts of which
follow.

Q. Can you give us some historical background on ergonomics?

A. In the late 1800's, the term was derived from the "ergos" and "nomos,"
meaning the laws of work. It started with trying to increase production of
goods on an assembly line.

Then, during World War II, the emphasis shifted to the interaction between
man and machine to decrease pilot errors during combat by redesigning the
display panels in their planes.

Today, the focus is to address the epidemic of work-related injuries.

Q. How did you get involved with the issue?

A. As an intern, I treated a patient who had recurring, left-sided midback
pain. The patient experienced improvements after each treatment but they
didn't hold over the long term.

While attending college and professional school, I worked part time as a
word processor where I first became familiar with sedentary work habits. I
remembered reading "Sitting on the Job" by Dr. Scott W. Donkin. It
illustrated the health effects of a poorly designed work environment and
simple solutions, which I applied to my own situation.

As a result of my own experience, I started asking my patient questions
regarding his job. I found out that he would reach back with the left arm to
answer the phone instead of swiveling around to pick it up. I recommended
that the phone be placed in front of him for greater ease. Because of this
small change, the patient's therapeutic improvements were holding. That is
when I decided on the need for ergonomics in the work place.

Q. What are the work-related injuries that industry is facing today?

A. Mainly back injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome, a muscle strain that
causes injury to the median nerve and can result in debilitating wrist pain.

Workers' compensation costs for back-related care in the United States for
1992 were $60 billion. In 1990, the Minnesota Department of Labor and
Industry found that back pain accounted for twice the percentage of any
other complaint for workers' compensation claims, resulting in 60 percent of
total compensation costs.

Aetna Life and Casualty estimates that workers' compensation claims and
other expenses, such as medical expenses, sick leave and rehabilitation,
cost employers as much as $20 billion a year for carpal tunnel syndrome and
other repetitive stress injuries.

Q. Among the health care professionals who diagnose and treat these
injuries, can you explain why a chiropractor's training is suitable?

A. Chiropractors have been exposed to a multitude of neuro-musculo-skeletal
disorders. In a chiropractic practice, the most frequent complaint seen is
lower back pain. Today, we have extensive education in biomechanics and the
focus is on prevention of work-related injuries. In 1993, commissioned by
the government of Ontario and health care economists in Canada, the Manga
Report concluded that chiropractic care for lower back pain is a safe,
cost-effective, scientifically valid treatment. What ergonomics and
chiropractics have in common is prevention and biomechanic intervention.

Q. Can you explain the body mechanics of sitting in a chair?

A. The basic problem is that most chairs are square and do not mold to the
shape of our curved bodies. Chairs force the body into an unnatural and
stressful position where good posture is impossible to maintain, especially
over long periods of time.

Q. Are commuters who sit for long distances on a daily basis at risk?

A. People who commute by train, plane and car all mention how the seats are
uncomfortable, especially when they have back and neck problems.

Q. What tips can you give them?

A. I recommend they purchase an inflatable or foam roll and place it just
before the forward curve of their lower back, as well as a U-shape neck
support pillow. If driving a long distance, it helps to bring the seat
closer to the steering wheel. Their knees will be a little bent, not
straight, giving the lower back a break.

Q. Once at work, what are some typical complaints people have while sitting
at the job?

A. The list includes eye strain, headaches, neck pain, shoulder and arm
ailments, back pain, fatigue, leg and foot problems.

Q. What do you offer as solutions for eye strain and headaches?

A. For eye strain, it helps to focus away from your concentrated work onto
distant objects to alternate your depth of sight. Close your eyes
periodically to relax your vision muscles. Make sure that task lighting is
bright but not glaring. If you work at a computer terminal use an antiglare
screen.

Headaches, which can be extremely debilitating, are sometimes the result of
poor posture. People often strain and tilt their heads in order to see a
computer, which causes nerve irritation and ultimately, headaches.

Q. What about neck, shoulder and arm ailments?

A. Phone work is often the culprit of neck strain. Rather than cradling a
telephone between your neck and shoulder, try using a headset. Shoulder and
arm ailments are greatly reduced by using a wrist rest, which is a panel
that runs along the base of the keyboard. The keyboard should also be level
with the elbow to reduce strain. An exercise which I recommend is to press
the palm down flat to stretch the underside of the forearm, and another is
to press the fist down to stretch the top side of the forearm. Remember to
hold positions for at least 10 seconds.

Q. Can you offer some preventive techniques for the rest of the body?

A. For back pain, adjust the chair to fit your spine by making sure to use
the back rest.

For fatigue, taking breaks and doing a little exercise can work wonders. In
September 1987, the World Health Organization recommended taking a 5- to
10-minute break for every 50 to 60 minutes of work. Doctors at I.B.M. in
Sweden noticed that those who engage in regular exercise for half an hour,
three times a week, showed better posture and had reduced stress.

For leg and foot problems, try flexing and pointing your feet up and down to
contract your leg muscles and improve circulation. A walk, either during or
after lunch, is both a mental and physical break.

Q. What did you learn from doing occupational health consulting?

A. There is no ideal environment for every office worker. The equipment
needs to be adaptable to different bodies and work situations. Most firms I
work with have invested in the ergonomic equipment, but are not that
thorough in training their employees to properly adjust it to fit their
bodies and work situations. Office workers don't realize that daily
micro-traumas can result in debilitating long-term injuries. They should
become aware of their stressors and understand that the small changes they
make in their environment and work habits will improve the quality of their
lives.