Tips to help make any office furniture more ergonomic.

In an office environment, how you sit and work at your desk can have a big impact on how you feel. Many furniture companies have created entire lines of ergonomic office furniture that is designed to help prevent back and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, eye strain, and other common office worker ailments.

But do you really need to buy the “ergonomic” version of every furnishing for your office? Not necessarily. Even ergonomic furniture can result in aches and pains if not used properly. Instead of buying the most expensive ergonomic furniture you can find, focus more on getting quality adjustable items and educating your employees on how to achieve proper posture at their workstations.

Ergonomic Tips

When it comes to being comfortable at work, the design of your workstation and the configuration of your office furniture plays an important role. Here are some tips for setting up the key components of your workspace in an ergonomic way.

Chairs

Ideally, you want office chairs that have multiple adjustable components, including chair height, arm rest height, and lumbar support. However, the most crucial component that you should never go without is adjustable height. Make sure the chair is adjusted so that you can rest your feet flat on the floor while still reaching the desk comfortably. If this is not possible, get a foot rest to support your feet. Regardless of whether you have armrests, make an effort to keep your elbows close to your sides. Also ensure that you sit up straight to keep your spine in alignment.

Desks

First and foremost, the desk needs to accommodate all the materials you need for your work within easy reach of your chair. You definitely do not want to have to lean, bend, or twist frequently in order to access items. Also, the desk must be high enough to comfortably fit your knees underneath with your feet flat on the floor.

Computer Monitor

Gazing into a computer monitor is a major source of eye and neck strain. You can help minimize this by keeping your computer monitor no more than an arm’s length away and adjusting it so that it is straight in front of you and the top of the screen is approximately at eye level. Also, consider getting a document holder so that you can prop up any papers you need to reference while typing and easily glance between them and the computer screen.

Keyboard & Mouse

If you have a keyboard tray, it should be adjusted so that you can type with your elbows close to your sides and bent at about a 90 degree angle. If you have a wrist pad, bear in mind that this is meant to be used for brief rests, rather than as continual support while typing.