Arms and Shoulders Ache? Try Exercise

A response to the notion that Exercise is better than Ergonomics for upper body aches ...

"If your upper body aches at the end of the workday, exercise may be the way to ease your soreness.

In fact, exercise might help more than some more expensive ergonomic interventions, Dutch researchers note in The Cochrane Library.

Researcher Arianne Verhagen, PhD, MSc, a physiotherapist at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and her team reviewed 21 studies on work-related arm, neck, and shoulder complaints. The studies included 2,110 patients.

"On the whole, I give exercises the benefit of the doubt, but technically not all studies show positive results," Verhagen tells WebMD, in an email.

The Ergonomics Alternative

Ergonomics has for decades been considered a solution to such workplace problems. It's the way your physical environment -- such as your work space or computer -- interacts with your body.

For instance, your computer keyboard may be placed at an angle that strains your wrists. Or maybe you hunch over your desk, or wedge your phone between your ear and shoulder.

Doing that for hours, day after day, year after year, may create pain in the back, shoulders, or wrists. Ergonomic interventions are intended to make your work space and equipment better suit your activities. Some computer keyboards and chairs are designed with proper ergonomics in mind."   (Continued via WebMD)       [Ergonomics Resources]