9 Ways to Increase Productivity After the Super Bowl

Last Sunday the 2014 NFL football season wrapped up with the Super Bowl Matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. The much anticipated game attracted a historic crowd of nearly 114.5 million viewers.

With the wide popularity of Super Bowl parties it is not surprising that the Monday after, that has infamously been dubbed Super Bowl Monday, is among the top 5 least productive days of the year.

In fact, the Super Bowl alone costs companies nearly $1 billion annually in lost productivity. There are several other factors that lead to lost workplace productivity throughout the year including: employee health and comfort, smoking breaks, Facebook, employee fatigue and employee engagement.

Combined these factors cost companies in the United States $1.8 trillion in lost workplace productivity. Considering the high cost of low productivity we have compiled a list of several tips to help you increase your productivity while on the job.

  1. Set aside time daily to plan out what you need to get done.
  2. Identify and utilize the time of day you are most productive.
  3. Take breaks.
  4. Know when to multi-task and when not to.
  5. Rate tasks and tackle the toughest ones early in the day.
  6. Limit meetings and go into each one decisively.
  7. Check email once an hour and respond to them immediately.
  8. Drink more water. Being dehydrated drains your energy faster.

Another great way to help increase productivity is to utilize SmartCells anti-fatigue products.

SmartCells anti-fatigue products are ergonomically designed and engineered to prevent and reduce pain, including back pain, associated with standing for extended periods of time and can help reduce 41% of the pain associated with lost productivity.

The unique SmartCells act like springs that cushion as weight is applied and then rebound when the weight shifts, which returns energy and reduces fatigue.

SmartCells Anti-fatigue runners maximize pain relief and are perfect for users who are too mobile for an anti-fatigue mat.

SATECH’s anti-fatigue products are built with industrial quality and combine features such as beveled edges and stability with style and elegance that blends perfectly in any room in the house. The SmartCells line anti-fatigue rubber mats come with an industry-leading 8-year warranty and are available in three different surface options (smooth, basket weave and carpet top) as well as three colors (Black, gray and light brown) and four sizes (2X3, 3X5, 24X68, and the 22” Octagonal).

SmartCells anti-fatigue solutions: I feel good

Is Jogging Really Bad for You?

Over the years, exercise trends such as Pilates, Tae Bo and Jazzercise have come-and-gone. However, one exercise trend people continually come back to is the practice of jogging.

In fact, according to Scarborough Research, nearly 57 million Americans went jogging or running for exercise in 2012. Additionally, nearly 15.5 million runners competed in more than 26 thousand running events across the United States that year.

Recently, a study by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), found that jogging up to two and a half hours weekly increases the life expectancy of men by 6.2 years and women by 5.6 years.

While jogging has been widely popular for it’s many health benefits, professionals have often debated whether or not it is more hazardous or advantageous for one’s health. One such hazard of jogging is the high amount of impact forces on one’s joints.

“I have run over 100 miles on the SmartCells Insoles and they feel great!” -Mike Miller

In their study, researchers from the ESC noted that in order to stave off the hazardous benefits of running, one should jog at a slow to average pace.

Another great way to reduce the impact forces of jogging is to utilize SmartCells personal training insoles.

The unique triple-action SmartCells cushioning technology can reduce impact stress on joints by up to 20% (using ATSM F355 – 10a).

SmartCells Personal Training Insoles easily slip into most shoes and come in two styles: a Standard flat style, for use with or without orthotics, as well as an Active Orthotic style that offers arch and heel support, personalized for size and designed for impact-related activities.

The family of SmartCells Personal Training products utilizes the same technology that has long been trusted by major companies as an anti-fatigue solution for their standing workers and, in senior living settings, as a solution to keep senior citizens safe from fall-related injuries.

SmartCells Personal Training: I feel good.

What Do Ear Plugs and Fall Protection Mats Have in Common?

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), in 2012, the total cost of elderly fall injuries was over $36 billion and it is estimated that the cost will increase to $59.6 billion by 2020 as the population ages.

Considering the health and financial implications of even one fall-related injury it is easy to see why SATECH has long been an advocate for not only fall prevention but also injury prevention solutions for our vulnerable elderly population.

If you have been following our blog, you may recall that several weeks ago we started a four-part blog series discussing the top bodily factors that can affect the likelihood of a fall.

In that blog, we touched on how maintaining healthy eyesight is a great way to help reduce the risk of a fall. This week we will touch on the second bodily factor that affects the likelihood of a fall: hearing.

It may seem odd to some that impaired hearing can increase one’s likelihood of a fall but according to several fall prevention specialists, the sense of hearing is linked to several important cues that help maintain balance.

In fact, according to an article written by the American Academy of Otolaryngology, as we age our “Central Nervous System slowly deteriorates which causes the sensory cells in the ears’’ balance system to gradually decrease in number.” This loss of sensory cells greatly increases one’s risk of a fall.

The following tips are great ways to slow the effects of aging on your hearing and reduce your risk of falls:

  • Have regular check-ups with an ear specialist
  • Avoid excessive noise
  • When around excessive noise for extended periods of time use earplugs or earmuffs
  • Have an ear doctor remove ear wax build-up or use an at-home ear irrigation kit.
  • Refrain from using q-tips which generally push wax further into the ear
  • Be aware of the symptoms of hearing loss (i.e. trouble hearing conversations, having to turn the TV up so loud it bothers others, talking louder)

While maintaining the health and integrity of one’s hearing is an important factor in reducing the risk of a fall, it is also important to have precautionary measures in place like SmartCells fall protection mats and flooring.

SmartCells build-your-own-fall protection mat

SmartCells fall protection mats and flooring employ a unique dual-stiffness technology that provides a stable, safe surface for standing, walking, wheeling and transferring, while at the same time provide significant cushioning in case of a slip or fall.

SmartCells fall-protection mats are safe and elegant. They combine style and quality with molded-in beveled edges and allow wheeled objects to easily roll over them.

SmartCells fall protection mats are constructed of material that will not absorb liquid offering a practical solution to infection control issues. SmartCells fall-protection flooring acts as an underlayment for many choices of standard floor covering, so you won’t even know it’s there, until a fall occurs.

SmartCells Fall Protection: We’ll be there when you can’t be.

SATECH’s Do’s and Dont’s For a Successful Tailgating Party

The NFL playoffs are over and Seattle’s mighty Seahawks are on their way to another NFC Championship game.

The next few games are not only important for the players but also for the football fans who plan to tailgate at them. Much like NFL athletes who will spend all week in steadfast preparation for the big day, a successful tailgating party takes days if not weeks to plan.

The practice of tailgating started in the early 1900s and has evolved to include an estimated 50 million Americans who spend nearly $12 billion each year on tailgating activities. In fact, on Superbowl Sunday alone, Americans eat more food than any other day of the year except for Thanksgiving.

A successful tailgating party takes weeks to plan and prepare for including game day preparations and activities which generally begin more than 5 hours before the start of the game.

In order to help you prepare for the big game we have compiled a list of tailgating do’s and don’ts.

Don’t…

  • Forget the ice
  • Leave a mess
  • Drink and drive
  • Let pickup football games get out of hand
  • Be late
  • Forget your ID

 

Do…

  • Bring a meat thermometer to cook and store the meat at a safe temperature
  • Bring the appropriate amount of clothing
  • Bring plenty of gas or charcoal for the grill
  • Bring your own cups
  • Walk around and meet other fans
  • Anticipate bathroom breaks
  • Bring a SmartCells anti-fatigue STOP mat to stay comfy all day long

With its portable design and built-in hand holds the SmartCells anti-fatigue STOP mat makes the perfect surface to stand on while grilling and tailgating for extended periods of time.

The unique SmartCells® cushioning technology consists of a rubber surface layer integrated with an underlying array of cylindrical rubber cells that soften in response to surface pressure to provide maximum fatigue relief. The SmartCells act like springs that cushion as weight is applied and then rebound when the weight shifts, which returns energy and reduces fatigue associated with standing.

For tailgating activities where you are simply too mobile to enjoy the benefits of a SmartCells anti-fatigue STOP mat, there is also a line of SmartCells standard and orthotic insoles.

SmartCells Cushioning Technology: It’s not how the mat feels, it’s how YOU feel.

5 Great Ways to Maintain Eyesight and Reduce the Risk of Falls

According to statistics compiled by the MetLife Mature Marketing Institute, “falls are the leading cause of injury-related visits to the emergency room in the U.S. and the primary cause of accidental deaths (75 percent) in people over 65.”

Considering, a single fall can often lead to decreased independence, injury or even death, it is important to be aware of the potential factors that can lead to a fall.

Over the past year we have blogged on several topics relating to environmental and external factors that can be changed to reduce the likelihood of a fall and/or a fall-related injury such as home safety tips, how to fall, picking the right fall protection products and how to avoid dangerous areas in the home but we have rarely touched on the bodily factors that can affect the likelihood of a fall.

There are several bodily factors that can affect the likelihood of a fall including eyesight, hearing, feet and bones. This week we will cover the first topic of this four part series: eyesight.

Eyesight is perhaps one of the more widely known effects of aging. As we age it is normal for our eyesight to be negatively impacted. In addition to the normal effects of aging on our eyes, senior citizens are also at a higher risk of eye conditions such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

It is estimated that 24 million Americans over the age of 40 have a cataract in one or both eyes. These cataracts normally develop slowly and will eventually lead to blurred vision, sensitivity to bright lights and glare, and trouble seeing at night, and an increased risk of falling.

Another eye condition seniors are vulnerable to contracting is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Sufferers of AMD generally experience decrease and/or distortion of their central vision. This loss of central vision causes many AMD sufferers to rely on peripheral vision increasing their risk of falling.

Even though the degradation of vision is a normal part of aging, there are several steps one can take to help reduce the effects of aging on eyesight. Taking the following steps will not only increase eye health but also help reduce the risk of a potential fall.

  1. Maintaining a healthy diet
  2. Reducing screen time
  3. Keeping regular eye appointments
  4. Get enough sleep
  5. Exercise your eyes

While maintaining the health and integrity of one’s eyesight is an important factor in reducing the risk of a fall, it is also important to have precautionary measures in place like SmartCells fall protection mats and flooring.

SmartCells fall protection mats and flooring employ a unique dual-stiffness technology that provides a stable, safe surface for standing, walking, wheeling and transferring, while at the same time provide significant cushioning in case of a slip or fall.

SmartCells fall-protection mats are safe and elegant. They combine style and quality with molded-in beveled edges and allow wheeled objects to easily roll over them.

SmartCells fall protection mats are constructed of material that will not absorb liquid offering a practical solution to infection control issues. SmartCells fall-protection flooring acts as an underlayment for many choices of standard floor covering, so you won’t even know it’s there, until a fall occurs.

SmartCells Fall Protection: We’ll be there when you can’t be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SmartCells Personal Training: The Secret to New Year’s Resolution Success

The Christmas rush is over and if you’re like most, you’ve probably already begun reflecting on the last year and setting your resolutions for the upcoming New Year.

According to statistics compiled by the University of Scranton, in 2014 nearly 62 percent of Americans made resolutions for the New Year. By far, the most popular resolutions made in 2014 focused on individuals losing weight, living healthier lifestyles and maintaining healthy exercise routines.

Chances are, at one point or another; you have probably made a resolution to live a healthier lifestyle in the approaching year.

Unfortunately however, only 8 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions are actually successful at keeping them. In fact, by the end of the first week, 29 percent of people who made resolutions will break them. That number rises to 36 percent by the end of January and by June more than half of people who made resolutions have broken them.

There are several reasons resolutions succeed or fail but as Confucius once said, “success depends upon preparation.” Prepare yourself for success this year with SATECH’s line of SmartCells Personal Training products.

The family of SmartCells Personal Training products utilizes the same cushioning technology that has long been trusted by major companies as an anti-fatigue solution for their standing workforce and, in senior living settings, as a solution to keep senior citizens safe from fall-related injuries.

Available in three different colors (Black, Light Brown, and Grey) as well as three different sizes (36”X60”, 52”X60”, 52”X88”), the remarkable SmartCells Personal Training mats are low profile (1/2”) and have molded-in beveled edges. For custom applications, SATECH offers custom-sized mats and a wall-to-wall flooring option that is perfect for in-home gyms and aerobics flooring.

Want to enjoy SmartCells Cushioning on-the-go?

Check out our all-new line of Zelus Insoles. Our insoles come in two styles (Simply SmartCells Cushioning and SmartCells Cushioning with arch support), and are biomechanically designed to reduce pain, improve performance and prevent future injuries. You can learn more about them at www.zelusinsoles.com.

SmartCells Personal Training: I feel good.

 

SmartCells Fall Protection Products Featured in Clinical Study

SATECH is proud to announce that a recent clinical study tracking the effectiveness of SmartCells Fall Protection products was featured in the Vancouver Sun.

The clinical study, currently underway at the New Vista Care Home in Burnaby, British Columbia, is being conducted by leading researchers, Dr. Fabio Feldman and Dr. Stephen Robinovitch, from the Technology for Injury Prevention in Seniors (TIPS) program at Simon Fraser University.

Considering, nearly 35 percent of people over the age of 65 fall each year and each fall can be life altering for this vulnerable population, simply preventing a fall isn’t enough; it’s imperative to prevent injuries from falls.

SmartCells Build-Your-Own Fall Protection Mat

Adhering to this belief, the clinical trial is concentrating on reducing injuries from falls rather than simply focusing on reducing falls.

As you may recall from our previous blogs it has been our longstanding belief that it’s not the fall that hurts; it’s the landing.

The unique structure of SmartCells, also known as dual-stiffness flooring, provides users with a stable standing surface that will not cause a balance impaired person to lose their balance, while at the same time providing significant cushioning if a fall does occur.

SmartCells Fall Protection products are available in a variety of options including: wall-to-wall flooring, build-your-own custom flooring and pre-sized mats.

SmartCells wall-to-wall flooring and build-your-own custom flooring options provide protection wherever falls may occur, without the intrusion of an above-the-floor mat.  As an underlayment, SmartCells floor will look no different than your current floors.

SmartCells Fall Protection mats combine effectiveness with style and quality, including features like a low profile height (1/2”) and molded-in beveled edges which reduce tripping hazards and allow most wheeled objects to roll over the mat, without needing to move it out of the way.

SmartCells Fall Protection mats are available in a variety of colors (Black, Light Brown, and Grey) and configurations ranging from build-your-own mats and custom flooring to pre-sized mats (3×5 and 24×68).

SmartCells Fall Protection mats and flooring will be there for your loved ones when you can’t.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears: The Anti-fatigue Mat Edition

There is an erroneous notion in the work place that anti-fatigue mats need to be super soft to be effective.  Research has shown that this is not the case, rather, there is an optimum degree of softness (compressibility) that produces the greatest sensation of fatigue relief.

No one knows this principle better than Goldilocks.  In the story ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ after testing porridge and chairs Goldilocks tests the comfort of three different beds;  one bed is too hard, another bed is too soft, but the third bed she tested is ‘just right’.  Although this doesn’t sound very scientific, the principle is true for anti-fatigue mats.

There are many so-called ergonomic/anti-fatigue mats whose manufacturers proclaim as being the ‘softest’, the ‘thickest’ or the ‘plushest’ in the market.   Unfortunately, being the softest is not the best as Goldilocks discovered.  A surface that is too soft can actually increase fatigue (example: try standing on your bed mattress); a surface that is too hard or bottoms-out easily may only be slightly better than standing on a concrete floor and everyone knows how painful concrete is to stand on.

According to a review of the scientific literature on the subject, we find that the ‘optimum’ softness or compressibility that produces the greatest sensation of fatigue relief is a surface that is not too hard nor too soft, but ‘just right’.  SATECH has determined that ‘Just Right’ means that the surface needs to have a compressive modulus of .6-.9 Mega Pascals (measure of pressure).  The SmartCells anti-fatigue mats and flooring are designed to be in this optimum range of compressibility; not too hard nor too soft but ‘just right.’

SmartCells anti-fatigue products are ergonomically designed and engineered to prevent and reduce pain, including back pain, associated with standing for extended periods of time. The unique SmartCells act like springs that cushion as weight is applied and then rebound when the weight shifts, which returns energy and reduces fatigue.

SATECH’s anti-fatigue products are built with industrial quality and combine features such as beveled edges and stability with style and elegance that blends perfectly in any room in the house. The SmartCells line anti-fatigue rubber mats come with an industry-leading 8-year warranty and are available in three different surface options (smooth, basket weave and carpet top) as well as three colors (Black, gray and light brown) and three sizes (2X3, 3X5 and 24X68).

SmartCells anti-fatigue: I feel good!

SmartCells Egg Drop Demonstration Stuns Audience at Physical Therapy Conference

Last week SmartCells cushioning technology was featured at the annual convention of the Physical Therapy Association of Washington, at the Washington Convention Center in Seattle.

The 2014 PTWA conference featured a presentation discussing how to tackle physical therapy problems by keynote speaker Peter Johnston, author of “Negotiating with Giants.” The conference also featured an additional 16 courses including classes regarding the topics of fall prevention and the use of Tai Chi to improve balance.

The SmartCells exhibit booth was at times overwhelmed by the conference attendees expressing interest in the unique cushioning technology that can reduce impact forces by up to 90% for their patients.  Interest was strong among therapists, administrators and educators who provide rehabilitation services for seniors, children, and athletes of all ages, in acute care setting, in-home environments, and therapy offices.  Of particular interest was watching the disbelief on peoples’ faces during demonstrations where the stable, firm SmartCells standing surface was shown to be so responsive that it could cushion as fragile as an egg.

Also attracting lots of interest were the SmartCells insoles for use with patients and clients who are on the move.  It was clearly a technology not seen before.

All-in-all, the PTWA was a great venue to show off the SmartCells cushioning technology.

The family of SmartCells Personal Training products utilizes the same technology that has long been trusted by major companies as an anti-fatigue solution for their standing workers and, in senior living settings, as a solution to keep senior citizens safe from fall-related injuries.

Available in three different colors (Black, Light Brown, and Grey) as well as three different sizes (36”X60”, 52”X60”, 52”X88”), the remarkable SmartCells Personal Training mats are low profile (1/2”) and have molded-in beveled edges. For custom applications, SATECH offers custom-sized mats as well as a wall-to-wall flooring option that is perfect for in-home gyms, and aerobics flooring.

To unload impact stress on-the-go, the all-new line of SmartCells Personal Training Insoles easily slips into most shoes:  a Standard flat style, for use with or without orthotics, as well as an Active Orthotic style that offers arch and heel support, personalized for size and designed for impact-related activities.

SmartCells Personal Training: I feel good.

*See Egg Dropping Demonstration

4 Physical Factors That Can Effect Your Risk of Falling

Fall is well underway and the sun-burnt grass here in the Northwest is starting to be hidden by falling leaves. As we watch the leaves fall we are awestruck by the beauty and gracefulness of nature. As graceful as a falling leaf can be, we are reminded of the not-so-graceful falls of our elderly loved ones and the often tragic outcomes.

It’s no secret that as people age, the likelihood that they will experience a physical fall or fall-related injury greatly increases.

In fact, statistics released by the CDC show that among people aged 65 to 69, one out of every 200 falls results in a hip fracture. However, that number increases to one out of every 10 for those aged 85 and older.

SmartCells build-your-own-fall protection mat

We have often blogged about environmental and external factors that can be changed to reduce the likelihood of a fall and/or a fall-related injury such as home safety tips, how to fall, picking the right fall protection products and how to avoid dangerous areas in the home but we have rarely touched on the bodily factors that can affect the likelihood of a fall.

In our upcoming blog series we will outline ways to reduce the risk of a fall or fall-related injury for you or an elderly loved one by focusing on these bodily factors:

  1. Eyesight
  2. Hearing
  3. Feet
  4. Bones

As we tackle this series, it is good to keep in mind that while it is important to reduce the likelihood of a fall, chances are, that at one point or another you or a loved one will experience a fall.

In the case of a fall, having precautionary measures in place like SmartCells fall protection mats and flooring can be the difference between a bruise and a broken bone.

SmartCells fall protection mats and flooring employ a unique dual-stiffness technology that provides a stable, safe surface for standing, walking, wheeling and transferring, while at the same time provide significant cushioning in case of a slip or fall.

SmartCells fall-protection mats are safe and elegant.  They combine style and quality with molded-in beveled edges and allow wheeled objects to easily roll over them. SmartCells fall protection mats are constructed of material that will not absorb liquid offering a practical solution to infection control issues.  SmartCells fall-protection flooring acts as an underlayment for many choices of standard floor covering, so you won’t even know it’s there, until a fall occurs.

SmartCells Fall Protection: We’ll be there when you can’t be.