Ergonomics examines the study of body mechanics, assistive devices, and equipment and their role in interacting with our body’s kinesthetic patterns in order to reduce potential for sustaining repetitive movement injuries initiated by poor postural alignment and control within our living space environment. By observing human factors, ergonomics also serves to maximize our workflow, productivity, efficiency, and comfort by focusing on the interaction between our mechanical movement patterns and our working and living environment. Human factors in our instrumental activities can range anywhere from how we engage in a kitchen space to how we comfortably sit at a computer workstation in a home or professional office environment to learning to incorporate adaptive equipment and prosthetics while performing I/ADLs. Occupational therapists offer a broad range of clinical tools to evaluate and treat all ergonomic considerations, including procuring, creating, and customizing assistive devices and equipment that will enhance and improve our work flow while decrease unnecessary strain to our joints and muscles while maximizing our time efficiency when performing daily tasks. The primary mechanical neuromusculoskeletal components used in ergonomic assessment and treatment include:

• Reflex

• Rage of Motion (ROM)

• Muscle tone

• Strength

• Endurance

• Postural control

• Postural alignment

• Soft tissue integrity