Access 2 Comfort is often called in when poor workplace ergonomics begin to have a detrimental impact on the health and wellbeing of an individual team member or employee. However, we also offer another equally important service, which is to support organisations and companies in their duty of care to team members suffering from any number of pre-existing health issues.
Whilst people often suffer from the same medical conditions, their symptoms and the impact those symptoms have on their day-to-day lives may be completely different. This is why when we are asked to undertake an assessment, we listen, observe and make recommendations that are bespoke to each individual, based on their needs and the demands of their job. As an independent company, we are able to recommend from the wealth of specialist equipment that is available, to ensure the best option is provided to each individual.
The case studies below highlight how each case and consequently the recommendations made differ.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Ann was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). She experiences stomach pain, lower back pain and joint pain, with constant pain in her knees. Ann finds sitting, more comfortable than standing, and raising her legs helps alleviate the pain in her knees. Charlie also has CRPS and her symptoms manifest as lower back pain, with her spine being sensitive to the touch; she is unable to lean back against anything that places pressure on her spine. Both Ann and Charlie require seating to support their specific condition related needs.
For Ann, this meant a chair that would allow for the adjustment of the back and seat angle in order to allow her to sit with her pelvis in a more neutral position, thus reducing pressure on her lower back and abdomen. Also recommended was a double leg support stool, so she can raise her legs, providing relief to her painful knees.
Charlie on the other hand needed a chair with a split backrest, comprising two individual back pads, enabling her to sit back comfortably, without any pressure being placed on her spine.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Naz experiences pain in her wrists, hands, knees, toes and feet, caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis. Whilst working, Naz explained to our assessor that she experienced pain when seated and in particular in her right shoulder and elbow when typing. Naz already had a suitable chair, it just needed adjusting by our assessor to ensure it was offering the best possible support. Initially, the seat pad was too low and the backrest was set in a fixed position. By raising the seat pad Naz could sit with a more neutral posture and by engaging the free float facility Naz was encouraged to move whilst seated, to avoid a static posture. We also recommended a soft touch, compact keyboard. which places less pressure on the fingers when typing. Naz was also recommended a rollerbar style mouse that sits in front of her keyboard and allows her to control the cursor without the need to grip or hold the mouse in a pronated position. As the mouse sits in front of the keyboard it also means Naz no longer needs to stretch to the right, a movement that was exacerbating her shoulder pain.
When we assessed Derek, he also confirmed a longstanding diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. He experiences pain and swelling in a number of areas including his hips, lower spine, hands, thumbs and knees. Derek explained the pain is constant with varying levels of intensity. Derek finds that sitting for long periods aggravates his condition and he finds relief from standing. Derek described how the use of a standard keyboard aggravates his upper limb pain. After listening to Derek describe his symptoms and what he finds to be effective ways to manage his discomfort, we recommended a height-adjustable electric desk, to enable him to alter his posture throughout the working day.
Derek was also recommended an ergonomic keyboard that allows each module to be positioned independently, to reduce ulnar deviation and pain build up in his arms.
Prolapsed Disc
When assessed, Peter described how he has suffered from a prolapsed disc for many years. His lower lumbar discs have now degenerated and he has started to use an electric wheelchair, as his mobility has become restricted. Peter described physical pain in his lower back when seated for more than one hour in his current office chair. Lizzie presented with chronic lumbar pain in her spine, due to prolapsed discs. Like Peter she also experiences reduced mobility, using a wheelchair and a walking aid when out of her home. In addition, her condition causes urinary incontinence.
Both Peter and Lizzie required new chairs to provide the specific, individual support they each needed. For Peter, a chair designed with taller and heavier users in mind was recommended. These chairs have more generous dimensions and ensure full support is provided whilst seated. However, this type of chair would not have suited Lizzie’s more petite frame and therefore a smaller ergonomic chair was the solution. Medical grade vinyl upholstery was also recommended to prevent urine soaking into the seat pan.
Crohn’s Disease
Betty and John both have Crohn’s Disease and as a result experience abdominal cramps. Betty also reported lower back pain, which seemed to be caused by the leaning postures she was adopting to guard her abdomen. Betty’s existing chair was suitable for her but was not set up correctly. The assessor was able to set the chair at the correct height, which allowed her to fully extend the abdomen, reducing pressure. The armrests were removed, as Betty was not utilising these and they were stopping her sitting fully regressed under her desk to protect her abdomen and reduce stretching.
John’s Crohn’s disease causes other symptoms including chronic fatigue and swelling in his fingers and hands, which causes dexterity issues. We recommended a keyboard with large keys to make it easier for John to type correctly when his fingers are swollen and specialist pens that are easier to grip. John’s fatigue means that he often works from his bed in an effort to find some relief, so he was also provided with a lap desk to enable him to work from bed, without adopting awkward postures.
Homeworking
The recommendations our assessors make not only have to take into account the client’s medical condition(s) but also available space. In an ideal world, everyone would have space for a desk and office chair, but this is not always the case and, in these scenarios, other solutions need to be found.
Candice is living and working from her one-bedroom flat. The only room she has to work from is her kitchen, using the kitchen table as her desk. Her symptoms, caused by her Hypermobility Syndrome, suggested she would benefit from alternating her posture from seated to standing at intervals, throughout the day, however, there was no room for an electric desk. Instead, a small footprint, sit-stand adjuster, that could be placed on top of the kitchen table was suggested. Candice also required a more supportive seating option, however, the limited space in her kitchen meant it would not be possible for Candice to stand with an office chair pushed to the rear or side of her desk. Therefore, a sit-stand stool was recommended for Candice, the stool has a smaller base than a standard office chair and would offer a partially supported, sitting position, to be alternated with working in a standing posture.
Ishmail was also home working when he was assessed, however, he had no worksurface space at all, as he was in shared accommodation; working directly from his laptop on his lap. In this instance, a mobile workspace was the recommended solution. This provided Ishmail with a suitable work surface on which to place his laptop and paperwork and as it is on wheels it could be moved between rooms and stored out of the way when not in use.
This is just a snapshot of some of the people we have been able to help. If you think we could do the same for you or someone you know please contact us.