Whether you are still
working in an office or working at home, you have undoubtedly learned the hard
way that typing generates its own set of problems. Don’t complain about modern technology though,
because I am sure that you can still remember the days of manual typewriters. We
were good though, but you must admit that it wasn’t a piece of cake.
Find the right computer and
the right keyboard for you. All
keyboards carry a warning that extensive use can cause pain/injury to hands, wrists,
arms, neck, and back. However, ergonomic keyboards have been designed
to ease fatigue and discomfort. If you
are buying a computer for your home office, go to a store and try out a variety
of products to see what suits you best.
No keyboard can prevent all
types of office injuries no matter which one you use. The best thing you can do is to take a break
every 20 minutes or so. Look at your
office with a critical eye and follow recommendations for making your workspace
comfortable. Your chair should be adjusted so that your thighs are parallel to the
floor. The seat should be at least an
inch wider than the hips on either side, and the seat should be short enough
that you can sit back. This article
suggests skipping the arm rests while typing.
This is all well in good, but as I look at myself, I find that my arms
are resting on the armrest and I have my knees crossed…looks like I am a
disaster waiting to happen.
The monitor should be at arms length in front of you and when you look
forward your eyes should focus on a point 2 to 3 inches below the top of the
screen. Keep the keyboard close to your body and below your elbows. Center the B key in line with your body and the monitor (I can’t believe how
many of these things that I am not doing).
The mouse should be in a
comfortable position so that your wrist and fingers aren’t bent in an awkward
fashion. You can avoid neck strain by using a copy holder rather than constantly looking back and forth from a
stack of papers on your desk to the monitor.
A paper stand, which looks like a clipboard, keeps your reference
materials at the same height as your
monitor. So, what do you think? Are you ready to do some serious typing
now? Your computer work doesn’t have to
be a pain in the neck or any other part of your body.
Wow, you make some really great points here about how to be comfortable at work, or at the office desk in general. I too am using the armrests right now, good thing I read this post. Your suggestion about trying out keyboards is a good one, most stores have floor models that you can go and "practice" with. Good point about the keyboard positioning too! There are a handful of products designed for seniors to work more easily and comfortably as well, such as the oversized keyboards which make it extremely easy to type without hitting the wrong key. We also have a complete computer for seniors as well, featuring a trackball mouse and other features made for seniors. Thank you for sharing the article, I think it will come in handy for people who are very active at the office.
Posted by: Firststreetinc.wordpress.com | September 21, 2010 at 11:39 AM