Back pain is a significant hindrance, and it’s one of the leading causes of disability in the United States, according to the American Chiropractic Association. And while you might think that only blue-collar workers are affected by back pain and spinal health issues, office workers are at risk as well. Sitting for hours on end can lead to poor posture, which can trigger back pain.

Here is how to stop it.

• Seek treatment immediately. SmartCells recently released a blog noting how physical therapists can help improve the pain associated with musculoskeletal injuries. If you hurt your back, do not wait to get help. The sooner you receive treatment, the faster you can get back to work and life.

• Take a collagen supplement. Collagen – and specifically collagen peptides – are powerhouse proteins that play a role in joint health. As Penn Medicine explains, collagen can reduce lower back pain, help you build muscle mass, and ease osteoarthritis symptoms. Add a collagen supplement to your daily routine, and you may be able to prevent premature muscle atrophy and reduce future joint damage.

• Understand ergonomics. Ergonomics is the practice of creating a healthy and functional workspace. Part of this is to ensure that your desk, chair, monitor, and surroundings are in perfect alignment. This can help reduce strain on your spine and keep you more comfortable, both of which will improve productivity and efficiency. To create an ergonomic environment, watch your posture, invest in back support, and, most importantly, choose the right chair, desk, and monitor position.

• Visit the chiropractor. Chiropractors are health professionals that focus not on medicine but on prevention. The vast majority believe that many health conditions, including migraines and blurred vision, are related directly to the health of your spine. A chiropractor can adjust your spine regularly to ensure it stays in the right position. Chiropractic center Arizona Pain acknowledges, however, that chiropractic care is not without risks, so do your research and choose a reputable provider.

• Stretch. Most people stretch first thing upon waking. This is a natural instinct, and the body knows that stretching has many benefits. These include increased blood flow, joint lubrication, and improved range of motion. All of these work together to keep your back, spine, and other moving parts healthy and pain-free. Make stretching a part of your exercise routine, which may also include yoga to further enhance flexibility.

The Reality Of Back Pain

Back pain, contrary to popular belief, is not always caused by trauma. In fact, even healthy and active individuals can experience spinal discomfort. Back problems affect approximately 80% of the population at some point. In the United States, it’s the second most common reason people visit their doctors.

Back pain cannot only make it more difficult to concentrate on work, but it can also disrupt your entire lifestyle. People with chronic upper or lower back pain are often depressed and experience low self-esteem. Chronic pain can also have a negative impact on family and romantic relationships, and it can keep you from enjoying a Sunday drive, an afternoon playing ball with your kids, or even sitting down for a nice dinner. Pain is a quality-of-life issue that you have to address before it upends your entire existence.

Working from the comfort of home does not preclude you from the potential for spinal injuries. Office workers are just as at risk as those who deal with heavy loads. And, when you are working outside of a professional environment, you won’t have HR or your health and safety staff looking over your shoulder to make sure that you’re being safe. It’s up to you, and the above tips, including prioritizing ergonomics and indulging in regular chiropractic adjustments, can help you protect one of your body’s most important features.

SmartCells anti-fatigue mats can help you protect your workforce and your productivity. Click the button below to request more information.

SmartCells: Solutions for Life’s Painful Problems.

To quote Ned Stark from Game of Thrones, “Winter is coming”.

Despite how popular this quote is, in real life, the arrival of Winter is often overshadowed by Christmas and New Years.

Even in the professional world, many organizations focus efforts on the annual holiday sales rush and strategic planning for the following new year.

While those activities are important, the arrival of Winter presents new challenges for employee health and safety that are often overlooked as well.

Not only does the cold weather bring harsher conditions for outdoor laborers, the risk of catching a cold or illness increases as does the risk of experiencing a slip and fall injury.

In fact, according to a white paper published by the BLS titled, The Seasonal Timing of Work-Related Injuries, fracture rates and tendonitis/joint-pain-related injuries occur more frequently during the winter months.

Luckily, with a little planning and implementation, organizations can reduce the risk of injuries while increasing productivity, even in the cold winter months. 

That’s where SmartCells come in.

At SmartCells, we believe that “Life Shouldn’t Hurt”™. This belief guided us to engineer our unique SmartCells™ Cushioning Technology which has been optimized to provide an energizing responsiveness in a soft, yet stable surface.

This advanced cushioning technology consists of a rubber top layer supported by a matrix of cylindrical columns that compress and respond dynamically to surface pressure, which allows SmartCells to provide maximum fatigue relief.

In addition to providing fatigue relief, due to the responsive nature of SmartCells, independent studies have found fracture rates due to a fall on SmartCells products are significantly lower than other surfaces.

SmartCells Anti-fatigue solutions are available in pre-sized mats or as a custom flooring solution for unique areas with options including slip-resistant surfaces and low-profile transitions to reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls.

This year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are pleased to offer a new solution to help increase productivity while maintaining proper distancing protocols.

SmartCells SafeSpace Solutions are available as Runners or Custom Flooring and are constructed by alternating the color of the SmartCells to create defined work areas of virtually any shape and size that are properly spaced.

Available in 2’ or 3’ wide options, SafeSpace Runners are configured to any length and are constructed of connectable sections that incorporate the desired workstation size separated by 6’ distancing buffers.

For custom modular workstations or wall-to-wall applications, SafeSpace Custom flooring is easily installed and incorporates personal workstations separated by distancing buffers.

Finally, for mobile workforces where a SmartCells mat or floor isn’t a good option, we recommend our SmartCells Anti-fatigue Industrial Insole.

This insole is the perfect solution for on-the-go fatigue relief. Featuring SmartCells® Cushioning in the heel and forefoot, these insoles significantly reduce impact forces and also return the energy back to your body. The additional layers provide a cushioned arch support and add a soft yet sturdy top cover to keep every employee comfortable throughout the day.

As an added bonus, thanks to multiple cushioning layers SmartCells Industrial insoles offer insulating benefits to keep employee feet from becoming uncomfortably cold due to concrete floors. 

Ready to protect your workforce this Winter? Click the button below to request a quote and get started with SmartCells.

SmartCells: Solutions for Life’s Painful Problems.

While foot injuries may seem trivial compared to other workplace injuries, numbers from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate otherwise.

In 2018 alone, there were more than 55,000 foot injuries reported in the workplace. 

These injuries not only hurt employees, they also harm workplace  productivity. Employees who suffered from a foot injury spent an average of 8 days away from work immediately following that injury. When employees did return many had ongoing issues and worked in pain which caused a loss of productivity while on-the-job.

The pain for employees and organizations doesn’t stop there. Sore and injured feet have been connected to an increased risk of workplace slips, trips, and falls which cost companies more than $967.9 Billion annually. That’s a lot of lost productivity.

But there’s good news. 

Reducing your workforce’s risk of foot pain and injuries can be simple and cost-efficient.

That’s where SmartCells comes in.

The SmartCells Industrial Insole is the perfect solution for active workers who are always on their feet or for workers who are prone to foot injuries. 

Featuring SmartCells® Cushioning in the heel and forefoot, these insoles significantly reduce impact forces and return energy back to your body. The additional layers provide a cushioned arch support and add a soft yet sturdy top cover to keep your workforce comfortable throughout the day. 

To start reducing your workforce’s risk of foot injuries today, click the button below. (We even offer company-wide insole programs.)

Who are we and what are SmartCells?

At SmartCells, we believe that “Life Shouldn’t Hurt”™. This belief guided us to engineer our unique SmartCells™ Cushioning Technology which has been optimized to provide an energizing responsiveness in a soft, yet stable surface. Standing on this patented design results in an exhilarating feeling of fatigue relief.

This advanced cushioning technology consists of a rubber top layer supported by a matrix of cylindrical columns that compress and respond dynamically to surface pressure, which allows SmartCells to provide maximum fatigue relief.

From pre-sized mats, runners, wall-to-wall and custom flooring applications to our revolutionary SmartCells Industrial Insoles, each SmartCells solution is specifically designed to relieve fatigue in standing workers, no matter where they work.

SmartCells: Solutions for Life’s Painful Problems.

This year, more than 100 million Americans over the age of 18 will develop a musculoskeletal injury that lasts more than 3 months according to research conducted by the US Bone and Joint Initiative. 

Not only does research show that musculoskeletal injuries greatly impact one’s ability to remain productive at work, perhaps more alarming is that those with musculoskeletal conditions are 17% more likely to develop a chronic disease such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

The good news is, with some physical therapy, many of these injuries can be improved. In fact, beyond injury rehabilitation, physical therapy has been found to also help with injury and illness prevention.

At SmartCells, we believe Life Shouldn’t Hurt™. This is why we have partnered with physical therapists to tailor a suite of SmartCells solutions specifically engineered to reduce impact, help prevent injuries, and deliver measurable results for patient progress and the clinic.

Here’s How SmartCells Help

Each SmartCells physical therapy solution utilizes our patented SmartCells Cushioning Technology. Our product lineup includes anti-fatigue mats to provide front desk personnel standing comfort, a Physical Therapy Mat designed by therapists to improve rehabilitation exercises, and even prefabricated off-the-shelf insoles and custom orthotics. 

The optimized design of SmartCells offer a stable surface over cylindrical cells which soften under impact and resist bottoming out. This creates the perfect balance of support and cushion, for maximum fatigue relief while minimizing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Using a SmartCells product allows therapists and patients to stay safe and comfortable while working to rehabilitate existing injuries.

In addition, while SmartCells solutions are specifically designed to enhance patient rehabilitation and user comfort, they also provide clinics with an effective way to generate additional revenue per session through reseller and tax credit programs. For details, visit our website by clicking below. 

SmartCells: Solutions for Life’s Painful Problems.

As COVID-19 continues to impact life as we know it, the race to find a vaccine is on.

From the pharmacists who fill prescriptions at local pharmacies to those researching, developing, and testing new medications, all eyes are on the pharmaceutical industry.

As if the additional stress of the pandemic wasn’t enough, due to long hours standing to work, many pharmacists and technicians are experiencing increasing levels of physical pain as well.

That’s where SmartCells comes in.

At SmartCells, we believe that “Life Shouldn’t Hurt”™. This belief guided us to engineer our unique SmartCells™ Cushioning Technology which has been optimized to provide an energizing responsiveness in a soft, yet stable surface. Standing on this patented design results in an exhilarating feeling of fatigue relief.

This advanced cushioning technology consists of a rubber top layer supported by a matrix of cylindrical columns that compress and respond dynamically to surface pressure, which allows SmartCells to provide maximum fatigue relief.

SmartCells Anti-fatigue solutions are available in pre-sized mats or as a custom flooring solution for unique areas such as pharmacies, blood draw labs, and reception areas. Each SmartCells solution is specifically designed to relieve fatigue in standing workers, no matter where they work.

In fact, SmartCells Anti-Fatigue Solutions are used in a wide variety of civilian and government labs and pharmacies to keep pharmacists comfortable while they help people all day long. 

Keep reading to learn how SmartCells help pharmacists at Eglin Air Force Base.

In 2017, the Chief at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida reached out to SATECH requesting a SmartCells anti-fatigue solution in their main pharmacy area.

Due to the seamless design of the SmartCells cushioned flooring systems, they can be used as an underlayment with carpet or sheet vinyl installed over the top . As showcased here, the SmartCells are installed first, then an approved carpet tile is laid over the top. This creates a clean anti-fatigue solution.

For Eglin AFB, SATECH installed a 1” thick black anti-fatigue flooring solution with Interface carpet tile installed over the top. In addition, 6” wide transitions were used at all of the walk on and off areas to reduce tripping hazards. As can be seen, this installation required custom cutting and configuration around cabinetry and shelving which is why the Air Force relies on SATECH’s expertise.

As can be seen by the photos below, the completed project at Eglin AFB turned out great and the employees were eager to have SmartCells.

SmartCells: Solutions for Life’s Painful Problems.

Chad Lindstrom discusses ways SmartCells is helping essential workers and businesses during the pandemic.

It’s no secret that in the battle against COVID-19, today’s heroes are those essential workers who have gone through the storm and keep working to help others and provide much-needed services.

SmartCells wanted to show their appreciation for these essential workers and contribute to their efforts. Chad Lindstrom, the VP of marketing at SmartCells, elaborated.

“We wanted to find a way to give back,” Lindstrom said. “We knew these workers’ jobs were stressful. We knew their days were jam-packed, running around on their feet all day, and that’s where our products shine. When you’re always on your feet, we help you feel better. If we could take some element of stress and pain out of their day, that would be great.”

The solution? SmartCells put together a campaign to help local healthcare facilities.

“We started right in our backyard and opened up a free mat program. It was to help healthcare facilities to reduce fatigue,” Lindstrom said.

The program proved so successful that, eventually, it was rolled out across the nation.

“We gave away more than 600 mats, and the feedback we’ve received from these hospitals and urgent care clinics made the whole experience so rewarding,” Lindstrom said.

And, as businesses begin to open up, Lindstrom sees opportunities for SmartCells to play a role in social distancing safety measures.

“We can create multiple color mats. Let’s say you have a runner that’s three feet wide, and it goes for 20 feet along a pick line in a facility. There’s a lot of employees standing along that runner utilizing our anti-fatigue technology,” Lindstrom said. “We created a technique where, every six feet, you can insert a different color. We call it our safe space solution.”

It’s another small but helpful way companies can provide safety to their employees during this unprecedented time.

Be sure to subscribe to our industry publication for the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Building Management Industry.

Not all anti-fatigue solutions are the same. With many variables and factors to consider, Bob Bishop, President of SmartCells, lent his knowledge and expertise to help host Tyler Kern break down the importance of making the right decision regarding anti-fatigue solutions to ensure optimal cushioning and support.

Bishop said there are nine main points that people need to ask themselves when purchasing a true anti-fatigue solution.

“At the top of that list of questions,” Bishop said, “is, ‘Are the mats, or anti-fatigue surface, optimized?’”

A surface that is too hard or too soft can be equally strenuous on the body when standing on them for long periods. People need a “baby bear” solution – one that’s just right.

Comfort is not the only consideration.

“Not all products are suited for all environments,” Bishop said. “It’s especially so when you look at the common materials that make up many anti-fatigue products. Most anti-fatigue products, especially those at the lower end, are made out of foam, gel-based materials. They might have some thin top cover on them, but that wears through easily.”

Bishop cautioned that, in environments where the flooring gets wet frequently, those foam, gel-based mats soak up the water like a sponge, creating hazards and reduced longevity.

“One thing that doesn’t get brought up a lot,” Bishop said, “is the responsiveness of the materials. “SmartCells can take a vertically loaded force, or somebody stepping on a mat, and distribute that energy horizontally. And, because of the material’s rubber, it’s responsive to people’s movement. So when you move on SmartCells, these cells spring up to their original dimensions, returning energy to whoever’s using the product.”

From manufacturing to the ticket counter, and from the coast guard to the operating room, any work environment where standing is an essential part of the job, anything that can provide comfort can make a big difference in employee morale. Chad Lindstrom, VP of Marketing for SmartCells, knows the importance of reducing pain in the workplace. It’s something SmartCells incorporates into all its cushioning technology. Lindstrom expanded on the full range of industries experiencing the benefits of SmartCells’ solutions.

“The industries we typically see the most activity in terms of the biggest need are industrial manufacturing in areas where people stand all day,” Lindstrom said. “We work a lot with distribution centers. In the healthcare industry, we do a lot of pharmaceutical applications, blood-draw labs. We do a lot of government military for the department of defense. We also work with the aviation industry. Think ticket counters and baggage areas.”

But with all of these different industries, is it a one-mat-comforts-all strategy, or are there different considerations that go into which SmartCells’ solution makes sense for a particular business or application? “It’s a consultative process,” Lindstrom said. “We want to make sure businesses aren’t changing their infrastructure or set up to fit with us. We want to make it seamless to fit right into whatever our customer has going. It’s a learning process. We want to learn the business, what they’re doing, where the pain points are, where the employees currently stand, what the work area looks like, and what the work conditions are.” Lindstrom said it’s critical to understand these factors so SmartCells can meet the customer’s needs.