The importance of ergonomic furniture for your
home office
The benefits of ergonomic furniture
have only been known for a few years. But the effects of poor
ergonomics on the human body have been noted since people began
working in offices. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, lower back pain, neck
problems, and even depression have all been linked to poor posture
from the lack of ergonomic office furniture.
The basic rule of thumb is simple: the
more time you spend in office furniture, the more you need ergonomic
features helping you maintain the proper body angles. This is especially critical in two
areas – office chairs and computer desks.
Look for a desk chair that provides
plenty of lumbar support for your lower back. This cannot be
overemphasized, as back pain is the #1 complaint among office workers.
Here are some other factors to look for when purchasing ergonomic seating:
- Seat deck (where your rump goes) does
not press against the backs of your legs (too long)
- Seat deck has a rounded leading edge,
not sharp edges
- Chair cushion has adequate padding that
does not degrade quickly
- Armrests provide comfortable forearm
placement and allow freedom of body movement (critical for proper
ergonomic functioning)
- Chair has adjustable height and
backrest positioning
For computer desks, the main ergonomic
consideration is a design that allows you to get close enough to your
keyboard to type without having to stretch forward in an unnatural
way. It’s also important that your computer monitor fit in a position
that does not require you to squint to read the text on the screen.
Also, look for a desk that allows placement of your monitor in a
position that does not require you to crane your neck up, down, or to
either side.
Correct ergonomic body positioning
should be promoted by your office furniture. It just takes knowledge and good purchasing
decisions at the furniture store to avoid pain and (possibly) high
medical bills.
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