Importance of Good Posture

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 6, 8 January 1944, Page 6

Importance of Good Posture

Efficiency engineers in an American rubber factory recently installed special working tables and chairs for women employees and immediately new production figures showed that 1(3 girls did as much as 20 had dono before. When special seats were provided in a metal working shop women polishers increased their output as much us 82 per cent. On the results of investigations like these the women’s bureau of the United States Department of Labour has bused a bulletin — 1 ‘ Women ’s Effective War Work Kcquires Good Posture.”

A person may sit properly on any kind of seat, a soap box if necessary, the pamphlet admits, but the muscular effort required means fatigue, waste effort and increased accidents. In the interest of peak production, American factory managers are testing and installing good adjustable “industrial” chairs.

When workers say they prefer to staud, experts find, it’s becauso the seats provided aren’t right for the job. Either they have no back support or no footrest; they’re too liigli or too low; the seats are poorly shaped; there’s no room for the knees. Once the new equipment has been installed the plant still has a job impressing women with the need of good posture. They are instructed to sit well back in the chair, back erect but not stiff, shoulders and arms free to move comfortably. In lectures to workers, doctors in many plants point out how slumping crowds the abdominal organs, retards circulation and increases fatigue. They discuss with women the need for comfortable clothing, well-fitting shoes with low heels and room for toes to spread naturally. Plant recreation leaders in many largo factories combine instruction in correct posture with relaxing exercise periods for workers who spend most of the day seated at machines.

On the subject of posture for “civilians,” researchers point out that badgering a person to “straighten up” is wasting words if the muscular strength is lacking; that a person will stand or sit correctly only as long as he’s thinking about it, which isn’t very often. Exercise for general muscle toning is necessary. Walking and playing active games usually do the trick, but when special exercises are needed a physician should prescribe and direct them.