Ergonomics in the workplace

When I was about 11 years old I was absent from school on the same day they handed out science project assignments; I went back to school the next day to find out I was left with the last assignment that nobody wanted to take: Ergonomics. Personally, I had no idea what ergonomics was and I figured that my peers didn't either, which is why they so graciously left that assignment for me! Over 20 years later, I now find myself educating patients on how to ergonomically set up their office work space.

Simply moving your telephone, adjusting your chair, or repositioning your computer screen can help alleviate that chronic low back pain, neck pain, wrist pain etc.... just a few ailments you might suffer from if your office space isn't designed with ergonomics in mind.

Here are some tips to keep your work from being a pain in the neck:

• The keyboard should be even with your seated elbow height.
• A chair that does not provide good posture can lead to lower back pain. If a chair is too high, there can be circulation loss in legs and feet. A good ergonomic chair should adjust for full lumbar support and should be padded.
  
• The chair back should press against the small of your back. Use a pillow if the chair back isn't adjustable. Your feet should rest flat on the floor.
• To ensure a 90-degree angle, the back of the knees should touch the chair's seat.
• Sit between 18 and 28 inches from the computer monitor. The top of the computer screen should be at eye level (head level over shoulders, not looking up or down).
• Use a wrist rest with rounded edges at the base of the keyboard.
• Direct-light sources should be positioned away from the screen to eliminate glare. If glare is persistent, try a glare filter, which is usually inexpensive at home-office stores. The monitor should be perpendicular to the light sources, such as a window, and the screen should be perpendicular to the desk.
• When operating a mouse, use the whole arm, not just the forearm. Keep the wrist straight and use a wrist rest at the base of the mouse pad.

~By the way, I won first place in the science fair that year!

For more information on how Aiyana Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs can help you, please call us for your free 15 minute consultation at 212-894-0767 or please check out our website at amazinghealing.com

posted by Sharon A. Wyse, L.Ac.