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tranfree issue 9 - 18 December 1999
Working habits: How to Prevent Back StrainBy Mary Maloof The most important tactic for avoiding... Why? Well, as translators, we sit in our chairs for a very, very long time every day, we don't take weekends or days off if there's a lot of work that needs to be done. Let's face it, do we *really* remember to get up every few minutes to stretch and take a break? And if you sit in one of those cheap and nasty chairs hour after hour and day after day and year after year, it truly will take a toll on your back. It will not give you the lumbar support you vitally need and must have to be comfortable and relaxed. This inevitably manifests in a whole host of productivity- and happiness-killing annoyances: horrible back and neck muscle spasms, headaches, irritability, inability to relax, loss of concentration, lack of sleep, etc. Another very powerful yet simple tactic is this: Drink plenty of water, and keep yourself hydrated throughout the day as you work. As I mentioned before, it's hard for us to remember to get up off our butts, get away from the desk, and get a drink of water, stretch, etc. This results in light dehydration, which in turn is responsible for much of the muscle spasms, headaches, and general sluggishness and "blah" feeling we all suffer from time to time. The beneficial effects of water are augmented even more when you take vitamins and/or herbal supplements with them, because these are great aids to concentration and mental sharpness. I have a small water cooler that I keep right next to my desk and it works fine. Another tactic is finding an excellent chiropractor and sticking with them. Good back care and maintenance is a boon to translators! A spine that is out of alignment decreases or interrupts the flow of energy from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body. This causes back stress and myriad other physiological problems depending on which nerve or nerves are being pinched by a misaligned vertebra. So there you have it. Prevention is better than cure, so make sure you...
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back strain and muscle
cramps is to buy the best ergonomically designed chair you can
afford. This is going to be THE most important piece of furniture
in your office, more important even than your desk, your
dictionaries, or your computer, and you should invest your money
accordingly.