“We’ve gOT Your Back: The Ergo Minute” Podcast Series

You’re invited to tune in to a new podcast called “We’ve gOT Your Back: The Ergo Minute,” hosted by University of Toronto MScOT students Julia Giancola and Madison Lazarou. Julia and Madison will bring you advice from U of T experts on how to apply ergonomic strategies in your home office, so that you can work more comfortably and productively, and reduce the risk of stress and injury on your body.

There are four podcasts addressing different issues: Be sure to check them all out!


Podcast #1: What do healthy tissues need?

The topic for this podcast is “What Do Healthy Tissues Need?” You will learn about how your tissues (i.e., muscles, joints, ligaments, nerves) are impacted when working from home, what tissues need in order to stay healthy, and some practical strategies you can implement while working from home.

This episode was created in collaboration with Dr. Sharon Switzer-McIntyre, Associate Professor and Program Director in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto.

Sources:
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ergonomics-workplace
Canadian Activity Guidelines: https://www.csep.ca/CMFiles/Guidelines/CSEP_PAGuidelines_adults_en.pdf
Nowrouzi-Kia, B. (2019). Joint Motion and Tissue Stress [PowerPoint Slides].

 


Podcast #2: Creative home setups

The topic for this podcast is “Creative Home Setups.”  You will learn about proper body positioning, risk factors that may contribute to injury, and creative and no-cost home setup ideas you can implement to help you work more safely and productively at home.

This episode was created in collaboration with Pat McKee, Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto.

Sources:
Switched onto Safety: http://switchedontosafety.com/ergonomics-in-the-workplace-2/
Posturite: https://www.posturite.co.uk/webinars/2020-webinars/working-from-home-quick-fixes
Taylor’d Ergonomics Incorporated. (n.d.). Ergonomics and Home Offices [PowerPoint Slides].


Podcast #3: Eyestrain & lighting while using electronic interfaces

The topic for this podcast is “Eyestrain & Lighting While Using Electronic Interfaces.”  You will learn about blue light and how it affects your eyes, risk factors that may be contributing to your eyestrain or tiredness, and some practical strategies you can implement to help protect your eyes when working from home.

Sources:
The Canadian Association of Optometry: https://opto.ca/health-library/the-20-20-20-rule
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: https://www.ccohs.ca/products/courses/office_ergonomics/
Blue Light Exposed: http://www.bluelightexposed.com/#what-is-blue-light


Podcast #4: Work-life balance and restorative sleep

The topic for this podcast is “Work-life Balance and Restorative Sleep.”  You will learn about the importance of work-life balance and restorative sleep, tips on how to integrate work-life balance into your daily routine, and strategies to help you achieve better sleep quality and consistency. These strategies will help you find the right fit between your goals and daily tasks, which will contribute to overall feelings of happiness, productivity and satisfaction while working from home.

This episode was created in collaboration with Marina Rezkalla, OT Reg. (Ont.), a University of Toronto alumnus who currently works on a family health team and Judith Mendoza, OT Reg. (Ont.), who runs a private practice specializing in mental health and insomnia treatment.

Sources:
https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/achieving-work-life-balance
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01059-4
https://www.ccohs.ca/products/posters/pdfs/mentalFitness.pdf
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-guidelines-covid-19-isolation

Corkhill, B., Hemmings, J., Maddock, A., & Riley, J. (2014). Knitting and Well-being, Textile, 12 (1), 34-57. doi: 10.2752/175183514×13916051793433

Manber, R., & Carney, C. E. (2015). Treatment plans and interventions for insomnia: a case formulation approach. Guilford Publications.

Suetsugi, M., Mizuki, Y., Ushijima, I., & Watanabe, Y. (2002). The relationship between rhythmic activities during a mental task and sleep spindles: a correlative analysis. Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 26(4), 631-637. doi:10.1016/S0278-5846(01)00216-0


Podcast #1: What do healthy tissues need?

Podcast #2: Creative home setups

Podcast #3: Eyestrain & lighting while using electronic interfaces

Podcast #4: Work-life balance and restorative sleep

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