The Elements of Biomechanics

The president, CEO, and owner of Macon Occupational Medicine in Macon, Georgia, Leonard Bevill possesses decades of experience in the field of occupational medicine. A graduate of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Leonard Bevill holds both a bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy and a master’s degree in exercise science, with an emphasis on ergonomics and biomechanics.

Biomechanics, described by the American Society of Biomechanics, is the general interplay between mechanics and biological systems. Biomechanics encompasses the movement of bodily structures, such as muscles and bones, as well as the movement of bodily substances, such as circulating blood. The study of biomechanics is particularly valuable in the field of sports and exercise science because biomechanics allows professionals to apply the laws of physics and mechanics in their efforts to enhance athletic performance. 

The four essential elements of biomechanical studies are statics, dynamics, kinematics, and kinetics. Statics refers to systems that are either motionless or in equilibrium at a steady velocity, while dynamics refers to systems that experience changes in speed. Kinematics is the effect of various exerted forces on a system, and kinetics describes the causes of motion.

The Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs Academy

The president, CEO, and owner of Macon Occupational Medicine in Macon, Georgia, Leonard Bevill has active leadership roles with multiple community organizations including the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce. In addition to serving as a longtime member of the chamber of commerce, Leonard Bevill sits on its board of directors and vice-chairs its member services committee. 

As part of its efforts to fuel business growth and insure a strong economic future for the greater Macon area, the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce supports an annual Young Entrepreneurs Academy. Abbreviated as YEA!, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy invites local middle and high school students to spearhead their very own entrepreneurial ventures. 

YEA! takes participants through every stage of the initial business development process, from conducting market research and drafting business plans to presenting funding pitches and launching new companies. Since its establishment at the University of Rochester in 2004, YEA! has grown to serves thousands of young people in about 270 communities across the United States.

Functional Capacity Evaluations - A Basic Introduction

As the owner, president, and CEO of Macon Occupational Medicine, Leonard Bevill has overseen the performance of numerous functional capacity evaluations (FCEs). Leonard Bevill is a Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator, a certification he received through Isernhagen Work Systems.

FCEs serve as a way to measure and report a person's ability to perform employment-related tasks. They often determine whether a person can return to work or secure an alternate job following an injury or illness, but they may also serve as a baseline for someone who may need accommodations to enter the work force. In some cases, FCEs provide the information necessary to design a rehabilitation program or qualify a person for disability benefits.

The makeup of an FCE will depend on its purpose and on the client's status. Most begin with a review of the client's medical records, as well as a musculoskeletal screening and interview with the client. The evaluator will then test the client's ability to perform specific physical tasks, which can range from lifting and carrying to object manipulation, depending on the client's field of work.

The evaluator may also assess the client's endurance, coordination, and ability to take certain physical positions such a sitting, standing, kneeling, or reaching. Regardless of the activity, the evaluator measures the client's pain levels. 

After the evaluation, the evaluator will prepare a report that explains the client's ability to meet the physical and mental demands of a particular job. The report can also match the client to suitable positions and list any accommodations or treatments that could help the client fulfill his or her responsibilities.

Ergonomic Setups for Desk Workers

Leonard Bevill leads as the president, CEO, and owner of Macon Occupational Medicine, the first nationally certified practice of its kind in the state of Georgia. Responsible for the delivery of services surrounding work-related wellness and safety, Leonard Bevill draws on training as a Certified Ergonomic Evaluator.

The first step to improving the ergonomics of your work setup is to determine your natural posture, which you will find sitting forward in a chair. You should sit with your feet flat on the floor, shoulders relaxed, and feel each breath throughout your torso. This position allows your vertebrae to stack naturally, and it is what you are aiming for when you optimize your desk for ergonomics. 

Your chair should be at a height that lets your feet rest on the floor and your thighs angle just slightly downward. There should be about a fist-size space between the end of the chair and your knees, and your tailbone should be slightly behind you.

The computer monitor you use regularly should be directly in front of you so that if you look straight ahead your eyes will rest on the address bar of your Internet browser. This keeps you from having to misalign your neck to look up or down. The screen should also be about an arm's length from your body, far enough away that you don't have to lean forward, but not so far away that you have to crane your neck to see it properly.

Your keyboard and mouse should be about an inch or two above your lap so that your elbows are at your sides and your arms are at or below your elbows. Your mouse and anything else you use often should be accessed easily without strain. For those who frequently use the phone, it’s smart to use a headset or speaker mode so that you don't end up tilting your neck to hold the phone stable while you type.