Ergonomics and Posture Services at OrthoRehab Specialists
Workplace ergonomics is how a work environment is set up to fit the person doing the task: desk height, chair support, monitor position, keyboard and mouse placement, tool and lifting technique, and how often you move during the day. Posture is how your body holds itself through all of it. When either one is off, the strain accumulates quietly. Hours of static sitting or standing reduce circulation, stiffen muscles, and load the spine, and over months that turns into neck pain, upper and lower back pain, headaches, and repetitive strain in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands. At OrthoRehab Specialists, our physical therapists in Edina and Minneapolis evaluate how you work and how you hold yourself, then fix the underlying causes rather than the symptoms alone.
Problems We Commonly See
- Desk-related neck and back pain from prolonged sitting and computer use
- Chronic pain from standing all day in retail, healthcare, or industrial settings
- Forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and a slouched or collapsed sitting position
- Tension headaches linked to posture
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist tendonitis, and other repetitive strain injuries
- Shoulder impingement from overhead or reaching work
- Lifting injuries and work-related back pain
- Pain that started after a move to working from home on a laptop, couch, or kitchen table
Workplace Ergonomics Consultations
Our specialists evaluate your workstation or job site and recommend adjustments to prevent overuse injuries. A consultation covers chair and desk height, monitor distance and height, keyboard and mouse position so the hands and wrists stay neutral, laptop setups, standing-desk use, phone habits, and, for physical jobs, lifting mechanics and tool use. We also look at how often you move. There is no single perfect posture; your best posture is your next one, so we build in the movement breaks and position changes that keep tissue healthy through a full workday. Consultations can be done in the clinic using photos or video of your setup, and our telehealth visits let a therapist see your actual workspace.
Posture Evaluation and Correction
Telling yourself to sit up straight rarely lasts, because poor posture is usually a strength and muscle-balance problem, not a lack of effort. Your evaluation looks at how you sit, stand, and move, which muscles are working too hard, and which have become weak or inactive. Treatment then targets the cause:
- Strengthening the deep neck, upper back, core, and hip muscles that hold you upright
- Mobility work for a stiff upper back, tight chest, and tight hip flexors
- Manual therapy to relieve the tension and joint restrictions that have built up
- Alignment coaching so you know what a good position feels like at your desk, in the car, and on your phone
- Postural restoration for asymmetries and imbalances that need a more specialized approach; see our Postural Restoration page
- Therapeutic Pilates for core stabilization and postural correction with certified instructors; see our Pilates page
Prevention for Employers and Teams
Ergonomics and posture screening are part of our injury prevention screening program, and for patients recovering from a work-related injury we perform job-specific return-to-work evaluations so the transition back to labor tasks is safe. Contact us to discuss workstation assessments or injury-prevention education for a group of employees.
Why Choose OrthoRehab Specialists
We are a therapist-owned practice with clinics in Edina and downtown Minneapolis, and every session is one-on-one with your therapist. For more reading, see our articles on improving ergonomics at work, desk-related neck and back pain, and how physical therapy improves posture.
Make an Appointment
Under Minnesota’s direct access law you may not need a physician referral to begin, and we accept most major insurance plans. Appointments are available early mornings and evenings to fit around work. Call our Edina clinic at 952-922-0330, our Minneapolis clinic at 612-339-2041, or use the form on our Contact Us page.