“Air Balerami (Air Flaxseed Neck Pillow): Safe Reflection Innovation During a Pandemic”
[unsoed.ac.id, Tues, 07/09/21] The ongoing covid-19 pandemic throughout the world has an impact on the entire order of life, one of which is the system at work. All sectors in the world of work are now familiar with the term Work From Home (WFH) or Work From Office (WFO). The reason is that this system is carried out in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 concerning the Health Protocol in the form of Social Distancing.
The WFH-WFO policy is implemented in all sectors without exception. However, the problem arises, namely the number of complaints of neck pain because the body position has not changed for several hours. Not to mention for workers in the education sector who have to stare at digital devices or screens when carrying out Teaching and Learning Activities (KBM).
People who are active at home tend to pay less attention to body postures such as prone body position, eye distance that is too close to the screen, and inappropriate height of tables and chairs. As a result, pain can appear in the torso, namely the neck, back, waist, hips, and buttocks (Sobirin, 2020).
Based on this problem, as future health workers, three Public Health students namely Sela Sri Ayuning, Nida Salma Mardiyyah and Febe Brigita Imanuella made an innovation as a form of solution for the problem of neck pain which is now being complained by all levels of society. Thanks to the Student Creativity Program (PKM) activity from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, this team was able to get funding and was able to realize its innovative ideas under the guidance of a Public Health Lecturer, Windri Lesmana Rubai S. Gz., MPH.
Sela Sri Ayuning revealed that Balerami stands for Bantal Leher Biji Rami (Flaxseed Neck Pillow). In the created product, flaxseed acts as an alternative to synthetic materials such as dacron, which is found in most neck pillows. Flaxseed was chosen because it is more environmentally friendly than dacron. In addition, the presence of lavender oil in flaxseeds is believed to be able to keep a warm temperature which can make a person relax. At the same time, the aromatherapy is expected to help pillow users become more relaxed and reduce stress. "Balerami can also be used as a simple therapy that is easy to use to reduce symptoms of neck pain and stress," she said.
Balerami consists of two layers, the bottom layer is air that can be pumped according to the user's wishes, while the top layer is a layer containing flaxseed with a lavender scent. “Neck pain is often considered a minor problem by some people. Instead of treatment, medicated oil is used as the first step when the pain comes. We hope that this innovative product can prevent neck pain that could have been anticipated in the first place. The high potential of market interest also motivates us to make products, so that this innovation can continue to be developed so that it becomes a commercial product that can later have an economic and health impact, of course, " she concluded.