Clinic Feature 

   

The Independence Center provides top-notch care to patients in Northern Kentucky. The clinic is conveniently located in the Independence Towne Center, right next to Kroger.

 

Tom Ernst, PT, MPT is the Clinic Manager and provides his patients with individualized care to get them back to their active lifestyles as quickly as possible. Tom is an adjunct Faculty Member at the College of Mount St. Joseph, where he went to Physical Therapy School. He is also a certified provider of Work Well Functional Capacity Evaluations (read more on our Workers' Compensation services below), a certified full service provider for Atlas Ergonomics, & has a special interest in maunual/hands on physical therapy.

 

Tom manages a wonderful staff. Charley Meade, PT, DPT, ATC is a graduate of the College of Mount St. Joseph. He has clinical experience in a variety of areas including professional Indoor Football, High School and College Sports, and medical coverage for the Flying Pig Marathon. Brett Lainhart, ATC, also provides patients with top-notch care and assists in the completion of post offer testing/ergonomic assessments. At the front desk, Janet Redman greets patients with a smile and helps to keep things running smoothly. Morgan is a PT aide with her Bachelors in Exercise Science and also contributes to the high quality care that patients have come to expect from our Independence clinic.

 

Stop in any time and say hello to our Independence team!

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics derives from two Greek words: "ergon," meaning work, and "nomoi," meaning natural laws. Combined they create a word that means the science of work and a person's relationship to that work.

 

Ergonomics is a discipline focused on making products and tasks comfortable and efficient for the user.  Ergonomics for the office is all about ensuring that the desk isn't causing undue strain on your body. Is your chair at the wrong height? Are your wrists positioned incorrectly? Is the monitor too far away? Remember, if you're over 50, you're naturally more susceptible to stress-related injuries.

 

How does Proper Posture Fit in to Ergonomics?

Proper posture is an example of ergonomics, as it promotes safety and efficiency in the work place.

 

How to Achieve Proper Posture

• Hold your head up straight with your chin in. Do not tilt your head forward, backward or sideways.
• Make sure your earlobes are in line with the middle of your shoulders.
• Stretch the top of your head toward the ceiling.
• Keep your shoulders back, your knees straight and your back straight.
• Tuck your stomach in. Do not tilt your pelvis forward.
• The arches in your feet should be supported.

 

Benefits of Proper Posture in the Workplace

• Keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly.
• Helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces.
• Decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together.
• Prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions.
• Prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy.
• Prevents backache and muscular pain.

 

Remember that proper posture doesn't just apply to the back and neck but to the other joints of the body as well. You can apply the ideas about achieving proper posture discussed above to achieving proper alignment throughout the body. Your goal should be to maintain neutral alignment in your joints (including your shoulders/elbows, wrists, hips/knees, and feet).

 

Quick tips for work include: Adjust your monitor, so that you don't have to look up, down, or to either side while using it, and position your keyboard so that your wrists aren't bending in any direction, but stay in line with you arm. Use a headset instead of cradling the phone between your shoulder and neck. Don't cross your legs at your desk. Women, stay away from high heels when possible, and wear a comfortable, low-heeled shoe.

 

We hope you can use these tips to stay safe and pain free on the job!