Alan Hedge, PhD, CPE

Ergonomics and Back Pain

Every day we do things that compromise the health of our back, such as lifting heavy objects or playing stressful sports. But you may not realize that being slumped in an uncomfortable office chair, hunching over your laptop, or sleeping on a poor mattress can also turn into serious spine problems. Thankfully, ergonomics is concerned with designing with your health in mind—and there are many products available that will help you take better care of your spine.

Professor Hedge directs the new Human Factors and Ergonomics Program (HFEP) at Cornell University.

His research focuses on understanding how to create environmental conditions and ergonomic design criteria for healthy and productive workplaces. Using field experimental approaches and environmental and worker survey methods, it considers how indoor air quality impacts worker performance and health, and how this is modified by organizational policies and environmental design modifications.

Deborah Watson

2009-04-15