Improving ergonomics – alternative office workplace design

Background Although they do not carry out heavy physical work and their job is not seen as involving the "classic" risk factors for musculoskeletal diseases, office workers are in fact particularly frequently affected by musculoskeletal problems.
(cf. Erika Zoike, Krankheitsarten (Illness types), 1997. Essen: Bundesverband der Betriebskrankenkassen, BKK BV, 1999.) This means it is crucial to change working conditions to prevent musculoskeletal diseases. The commonest set of symptoms in the neck, shoulders and back are
  • Painfully restricted range of movement
  • Painful muscles
  • Painful entheses and an increase in discomfort when there is a change in your movement pattern
(cf. Schwaninger, U., Thomas, C., Nibel, H., Menozzi, M., Läubli, T., Krüger, H.: Auswirkungen der Bildschirmarbeit auf Augen sowie Stütz- und Bewegungsapparat. (Effects of working with display screen equipment on the eyes and musculoskeletal system.) Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz, Bremerhaven: Wirtschaftsverlag NW, 1991.) The risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints are
  • Inadequate working materials and furniture
  • Keyboard and monitor, the main working materials, are poorly positioned
  • Too much time spent working at the monitor
  • Too few changes of posture
In the modern era of information and communication, almost ALL work in the office or in administration is carried out sitting down. It is considered a scientifically proven fact that sitting is unfavourable in terms of ergonomics and orthopaedics. One alternative is standing, but how you stand and what you stand on are important. Standing on a hard surface
  • Standing on a hard surface uses a lot more energy than sitting, mainly as it involves the large muscle groups in your thighs and buttocks.
  • This means it causes tiredness more quickly.
  • Standing for a long time on a hard surface puts pressure on your hips.
  • As the leg’s venous muscle pump is inactive, blood can collect in your leg veins
  • This can cause vascular disorders such as varicose veins and thrombosis.
Standing on the kyBounder – a soft, springy surface
  • Standing on a soft surface activates the fine, deep muscle layers required to keep your balance
  • You feel less tired and stressed and can concentrate better
  • Provides relief from back and neck pain
Read more here: the kyBoot for heel spurs, back pain, vein problems, bunions

Walking to a better performance

Ulm University Hospital's knowledge transfer centre for neuroscience and learning (ZNL) ran a study involving young adults walking 30 minutes three times a week, for six weeks. It showed that as well as improving their mental state, it also boosted their visuospatial and verbal memories.
Prof. M. Spitzer, Dr. S. Kubesch

Standing to work in the office – advantages

Lower costs, innovative thinking with kybun In buying innovative products following the kybun philosophy of movement, you have recognised the following four advantages: 1) economic advantages: the kyBounder and kyTrainer help increase your staff’s productivity, motivation and job satisfaction. 2) competitive advantages: fewer sick days cut the cost of absenteeism. 3) corporate spirit of healthy living: the healthy examples you set your staff and the company have a positive effect on the outside world. 4) forward-looking attitude: we are unanimously convinced that these workplaces adapted to workers' wellbeing will soon no longer be the exception but the rule.