KARACHI, Sept 5: Health experts at a seminar suggested appropriate routine exercise, proper posture and regular rest of five minutes after every one hour of work for everybody, including housewives and factory workers, to avoid stress-based complications which result in serious muscular and nervous system problems.

Health experts at a workshop titled “Staying fit at the workplace”, organised by the Pakistan Press Foundation at its Vicky Zeitlin library on Friday, called for maintaining a proper posture in routine life and while sleeping as the key to avoid all kinds of back and neck pains.

Dr. Abdul Moeed Kazi, Principal, School of Occupational Therapy, JPMC, and Dr. Nabila Soomro of the JPMC conducted the workshop, who informed about various kinds of therapies being used in the world, including speech therapy, horticulture therapy and even dance and music therapy used in the treatment of disorders.

Dr. Moeed informed that cumulative traumatic disorder is related with repeated motion, it rose rapidly in 80s and the 90s and accounted for 40 to 50 per cent of work compensations in USA.

He explained seven elements which contribute to occupational stress and various kids of body pains besides suggesting ways to counter them.

Forceful repeated exertions means tiring of those muscles being used for lifting, etc.

For prolong activity, he suggested it is better to take five minutes rest after one hour of work.

Wrong body bends and posture account for neck and lower back pains which is suffered by a majority people after the age of 35.

Localised contact stress means exerting pressure on nerves of certain body parts due to routine work as office workers suffer from numbness of hands and feet. Temperature and body vibrations must be controlled according to the requirements which is usually taken easily by people at workplace but add to body.

Dr. Nabila Soomro suggested remedial measures based upon research conducted in advanced countries which includes that tables must be 7 to 10 cm above the waist and computer monitor should be at the distance of 12 to 28 inches from eyes.—PPI