TORONTO, May 5, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toronto chiropractor and holistic care practitioner, Dr. Brian Dower, recently appeared on CP24 News to give tips on proper sitting posture and ergonomics. CP24 reaches more than 1.4 million viewers each day in the Toronto market. Dr. Dower states that his appearance was aimed at helping viewers who wish to prevent muscle strain, nerve pain and other common workplace ailments. "I believe it is important for practitioners to share their insights to as broad of an audience as possible," says Dr. Dower. "Lifestyle counseling for preventative wellness -- at home, on the playing field or at work -- is an important aspect of chiropractic care," he said. The news segment included proper keyboard height, body angles and mouse usage.
Chiropractic care practitioner Dr. Brian Dower appeared alongside naturopath Dr. Makoto Trotter on CP24 News to talk about computer-related joint pain. In the aired segment, Dr. Dower explained that these aches and pains are at least partly due to improper work methods when seated at the computer. He recommended that people with desk jobs follow a postural guideline he described as the "Rule of 90s."
"The Rule of 90s" simply means that 90 degree angles are the most ergonomic joint angles when you're seated and working," explains the chiropractor, recommending that workers strive to maintain 90 degree angles at the ankles, knees, hips and elbows. Dr. Dower also advised viewers to keep their elbows tucked in at their sides and make sure wrists are set at a neutral position instead of being angled upward or downward.
The importance of proper desk and seat placement became evident when Dr. Dower had Dr. Trotter sit at a computer desk. The naturopath was unable to maintain the prescribed "Rule of 90s" because the desktop was set uncomfortably high for his arms and wrists. When workers type or use a mouse in such circumstances, Dr. Dower explained, they must stretch their arms forward in a way that strains the muscles, leading to pain and nerve problems that often require chiropractic care.
If the worker cannot lower the keyboard by placing it on a keyboard tray, he can position a wireless keyboard in his lap as a workaround. Dr. Dower pointed out, however, that the mouse must be lowered accordingly as well. "Holding your arm forward strains the muscles and nerves of the arm, shoulder and neck. A wireless mouse placed at a comfortable level can solve this problem," he advises.
The Toronto chiropractor then explained to viewers the benefit of switching the mouse to the non-dominant hand. This change, he said, helps to balance the workload between both sides of the body as well as both hemispheres of the brain. "By exercising the non-dominant part of the brain more regularly, workers can actually become smarter," says Dr. Dower.
Dr. Brian Dower provides holistic care techniques such as chiropractic adjustment, acupuncture and cold laser therapy.