HEALTHY BACKS & BODIES™for the INDUSTRIAL ATHLETE

featuring

Tanya (Weiker) Snowden, Ortho PT, CEAS, REAS, AOEAS

Program Creator and Master Instructor

Healthy Backs & Bodies™

Step into a new era of injury prevention with our HEALTHY BACKS & BODIES™ Training Programs, specially designed for the Industrial Athlete and the Keyboard Commando. Dive into an immersive experience that uncovers the essential

biomechanical insights missing from traditional safety training. Our unique sports-orthopedic approach targets the CORE™ of common workplace injuries: a fundamental disconnect in how our bodies naturally move. Highly experiential,

interactive, evidence-based and fun, join us for a session that goes beyond typical body mechanics training to transform your approach to injury prevention. Experience expert-led orthopedic strategies to not only prevent injury, but also to enhance the body’s ability to resist and recover from injury and pain. Founded upon a fierce determination to help people live fuller, healthier, happier lives, HB&B™ Programs have been reducing pain and injury across North America since 2001. We look forward to seeing you!

Meet Tanya (Weiker) Snowden: Your Back’s Best Friend and the driving force and visionary behind HEALTHY BACKS & BODIES™ Training Programs. As a seasoned Sports-Orthopedic Physical Therapist and a multifaceted Safety Consultant, Tanya holds an impressive array of certifications, including Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist (CEAS), Advanced Office Ergonomics Assessment Specialist (AOEAS), and Remote Ergonomics Assessment Specialist (REAS), among others. She's not only a JFB-MFR Clinician and a patent-holder of the inventive TheraBand® CLX but also a published author dedicated to transforming lives.

"If only I had known this sooner..."

It was this refrain, echoed by countless patients during her tenure as an Orthopedic SportsHealth Spine Specialist at The Cleveland Clinic, that catapulted Tanya into the injury prevention training arena. Realizing much of the injury and pain she was seeing was preventable if only people understood ahead of time, how to move and position their bodies, Tanya created the HEALTHY BACKS & BODIES™ approach. More than an innovative orthopedic method for the field of ergonomics, biomechanics, and safety training, HB&B™ Training Programs are a call to action: We must re-train people’s innate fundamental body positions and functional movement patterns prior to training specific body mechanics actions and ergonomic strategies.

HEALTHY BACKS & BODIES™ Programs are the culmination of 27 years of hands-on treating, clinical insight, clinical and corporate teaching, and Tanya’s intense drive to change the landscape of injury prevention and back & neck pain. Tanya teaches and consults with the conviction and passion that can only come from an authentic love for the subject matter and from one who lives it every day.

Question: How can ergonomic interventions improve productivity and quality?

There are many improvements, but here are a few to get you started.

They can reduce discomfort and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Awkward postures, repetitive motions, and high force exertions from poorly designed workspaces lead to PAIN like back aches, neck strain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Pain and fatigue decrease focus, impacting productivity and quality.

They can improve focus and concentration. Discomfort and pain can make it difficult to concentrate on tasks. An ergonomically designed workspace minimizes these distractions, allowing workers to focus better and complete tasks more efficiently. Studies have shown that ergonomic interventions can lead to up to a 25% increase in worker focus and concentration, directly impacting productivity and quality.

Interventions can enhance employee morale and engagement. Feeling cared for and valued by their employer boosts employee morale and engagement. Investing in ergonomics demonstrates an employer's commitment to worker well-being, fostering a positive work environment that motivates employees to work harder and produce higher quality work. A study by Cornell University found that employees who received ergonomic training and equipment reported a 20% increase in

job satisfaction and a 17% decrease in absenteeism.

Finally, reduced error rates and improved product quality are byproducts of ergonomic interventions. Discomfort and fatigue can lead to carelessness and mistakes, impacting product quality. Ergonomic interventions that promote comfort and focus can lead to fewer errors and higher quality output. A study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that ergonomic interventions in a manufacturing plant led to a 30% reduction in product defects.

Don’t forget the BWC has Ergonomists who can help you evaluate ergonomic needs and aid in the BWC safety intervention grant (SIG) process. Reach out to your BWC safety safety consultant for details.

Cari Gray is an Industrial Safety Consultant Specialist with the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC).