Why Ergonomics Matters
Webster's Dictionary defines ergonomics as…………..No we won't be cracking that old chestnut of an intro.
However, Ergonomics is a branch of science dealing with the office environment and how we as humans interact with that environment.
Ideally, our body distributes the workload how it was engineered to and not with improper form (Wishful thinking).
For example, holding your head in an upright position can be performed in numerous ways, but there is an "optimal position/mechanism.”
Let's look at some stats to get us started and get you in the right frame of mind.
The average adult sits between 50-70% of the workday. If you are reading this most likely, that means you. This is a staggering amount of time in one position with little or no movement.
The average professional gamer is playing between 8-12 hours a day and 5+ days a week.
Why Ergonomics Matter
If you make your living at a desk, I can not stress the importance of proper posture, movement, and ergonomics enough. Every facet of the workday and your overall well being can benefit from ergonomics. Here's how:
Decreases the Number of Injuries
Sitting correctly loads your body’s weight-bearing structures naturally, causing a decrease in the occurrence of injuries, which is beneficial both in the short term but also (and arguably more importantly) in the long term duration of your sitting life.
Think of it as if you were holding a 10-pound weight (the weight of your head) with your arm extended or close to your chest. It's much easier to carry that weight closer to your center rather than outstretched, right?
Boosting Productivity
A decrease in pain throughout the day allows you to work longer and more efficiently.
Now, I want to stress that this doesn't mean to push yourself past your normal limits. It's crucial to move every 30-45 minutes in some fashion and take a “systems check” of your body. Be mindful and aware of the pain that’s occurring.
The old “rub some dirt in it” or “walk it off” mentality is B.S. Say your back is tightening up, for example. The self-investigation could look like this:
Why did it happen? What did I do in the past 2-3 days to aggravate it? Or is it due to prolonged sitting or standing?
What have I been doing for the pain? Heat/Ice? Stretching? Mobilizations of some sort? Strengthening or Endurance building in the area?
Is the pain severe enough to seek medical attention? Does the pain feel different than I’ve ever experienced?
What research can I do on my own to learn more about the pain? (the WebMD rabbit hole is a treacherous one, explore at your own risk)
Movement is Medicine.
This includes getting up out of your chair and performing some straightforward stretches. I've recently written a couple of articles covering the neck and low back stretches.
Decreases missed Work, Scrims, or Stream Time
An increase productivity and a decrease in pain throughout the day enables you to take less time off for injuries. This, in turn, means more time to take actual days off for vacations or overall rest.
Esports athletes will be able to make more tournaments or stream more days, giving them the potential to make more money.
Increases Your overall happiness
The points above snowball into this fourth point of increased overall happiness.
Chronic pain affects desk performance while also increasing rates of depression, which makes sense considering that when you are in pain, your not your usual ball of sunshine.
By increasing your overall happiness, you, in turn, increase your productivity at work, translating into a more positive you outside the workplace.
Wrap up
There are other numerous reasons to correct posture, take breaks, and move more, but these are the points I want you to take home (and the bank).
A happy body makes you a happy person.
A happy you is a better you (that should be in a fortune cookie).
Take the steps to self investigate, do some research, and reach out to a medical professional.
Whether gaming is your hobby or profession, taking care of your body and mind matters. Full Stop.