As mentioned previously the two things that we do most consistently in life are work and sleep. We all have the sleep process in common. Our work component varies based on your occupation. This article is for the folks that sit at a desk and stare at a computer screen all day. The same principles can and should be applied to your home computing area. Teach your children good posture habits for a life-time of better backs.
Work Place Ergonomics:
- Standing is better than sitting.
- If you have to sit; sit at the front of your chair, move your feet back so that they are underneath your seat and you are on the balls of your feet. This position changes the hip to knee line to a downward angle, thus placing your lower back into extension; then sit tall through your lower back. This will simulate standing. When your butt gets numb that is your indicator light to stand up.
- Keyboard height should be at your fingertips when your elbow is bent at 90 degrees and the shoulders are relaxed.
- Monitor height. Your plane of gaze should be parallel to the floor 18 – 24” from your nose to the center of your screen.
Common problems that arise from a poorly designed work station are: headaches, migraines, Dowager’s Hump (hump at the base of the neck), neck pain, numbness in the arms, hands and fingers, breathing problems, frequent illness, stress, SHOULDER PROBLEMS, weak core muscles, lower back pain, stiffness, sciatica, muscle shortening, circulation problems, and the list goes on.
See your work place ergonomic specialist and get your space evaluated. Plug in the ideas I recommend above and you will see improvement.
This is just another helpful hint!