While most women and some men may be fond of getting their nails done, they may not be aware of the non-monetary costs involved in providing the desired nail services. According to a study, manicurists and pedicurists suffer from severe discomfort and pain due to the awkward posture and repetitive motions involved in their work.

The work of a manicurist or pedicurist involves shaping, cleaning, and applying products to the nails and cuticles of their clients who merely sit with their hands and feet resting comfortably during these procedures. For almost 30 minutes or more, these nail specialists work sitting on low stools to allow their client to recline in relaxing positions while having their nails done.

In a study conducted by researchers from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research in University of the Philippines, Diliman, only 6% (2 out of 36) of the surveyed manicurists and pedicurists stated that they do not feel any body pain or discomfort during or after work.

The results also showed that the body parts that mostly frequently experience pain are the neck, shoulders, and back; while the parts that experience the most pain when working are the legs, back, and hands.

“The workers are commonly bowing and tilting their heads to have a good view of their work. This causes the neck to be overly stressed,” the researchers explained. Their shoulders and back also suffer from pain due to lack of back support.

Based on the results of the study, the researchers advised designing a better working chair for manicurists and pedicurists to lessen their chances of suffering from back injuries or spine impairments.

“The design must ensure that the tools being used are securely placed within their arm span to allow an efficient flow of work, decreasing the strain they experience… this would result to increased customer safety and well-being,” the researchers emphasized.

They also pointed out that further studies could be done to develop a seating configuration that would be beneficial to both salon workers and their customers.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics, from 2008 to 2010, there has been a 34.7% increase in the number of people engaged in personal care services, which includes manicurists and pedicurists. The study entitled “Designing an ergonomic chair for pedicurists and manicurists in Quezon City, Philippines” is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351978915002218. ■