Ergonomics: Seated Work
Author: Leon Groom

There is lots of common wisdom regarding how one must sit at
work with the monitor at what height and the elbows at what
angle, in order that the average office worker can feel
physically comfortable during their workday and not develop any
short or long tern injuries. Some of the advice commonly thought
to be good is in fact right on, while other commonly accepted
tactics for combating pain while seated at your desk sound good
in theory but do not actually work.

Many people will have back injuries whether it's in their youth
or adulthood. This statistic alone should drive us to take as
good care of our backs as we possibly can. Whether your job
involves lifting and moving all day or simply standing or
sitting, the risks to your musculoskeletal frame are the same.
In fact, sitting and standing can sometimes be more difficult
to do over prolonged periods of time. Though common wisdom
supports the idea that they best position of the body when you
must be seated is to "sit up straight", studies have shown that
a slouch will actually be more comfortable in the long run and
will do less damage to the intervertebral discs. Reclining
slightly is also healthier for your back as it parlays some of
the pressure from sitting onto the chair and off the discs.

The chair itself can also play a big role in the comfort of the
worker. Seat height and depth adjustability are key for comfort.
The height adjustability is important because the worker's feet
should (ideally) be flat on the floor. If the chair is too high
or too low they sitter is unable to accomplish this posture.
Seat depth adjustability is important because it decides
whether or not the sitter is able to make ample use of the
backrest, taking even more pressure off the lower back of the
sitter. Armrests aren't often used, but can provide support to
the shoulders and upper arms. Armrests mustn't be too high
however and can incite pressure on the undersides of the elbows
and upon the forearms while the worker is typing.

The lumbar is the area of the lower back with which most people
have problems when sitting for long periods of time. Many chairs
have adjustable lumbar support to avoid the flattening of the
lower spine. Most lumbar support in chairs has a slight curve,
promoting a natural curvature of the spine and relieving
pressure on the discs in the lower back.


About The Author: Leon Groom writes about
http://www.ergo-items.com/armrests/ergorest/ergorest.htm,
http://www.ergo-items.com/cursor/penmouse/wirelesspen_vm201.htm
and http://www.ergo-items.com