Ergonomics
Nov. 7th, 2003 03:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
taxladyI'm trying to organize my desk space ergonomically. My right shoulder has been sore for two weeks. Sore doesn't quite cover it. I've been waking up in serious pain. I can't lift the kettle with my right hand. A lot of movements are painful. The day before yesterday I finally figured out that it is probably from using my mouse wrong - had a shooting pain when I reached for it.
I've been searching the web for info on ergonomic workstations. But, some of it is clearly bullshit, and most of it is contradictory. E.g., forearms should be angled slightly downward, parallel to your thighs. Feet should be flat on the floor or on a footrest, so you don't cut off the circulation in your thighs. Once I get the chair high enough that my arms are in the right postion, there is barely room for my thighs. Now add the foot rest to get the weight of my legs off my thighs and I just don't fit. Next suggestion is to have the space bar centred to your body. That seems like a good idea. Put the mouse to the side of the keyboard that is comfortable and close enough that you don't have to reach. Helloooo, there's a numeric keypad on the right side of my keyboard and if my mouse is to the right of that, I'm reaching again. Oh, here's a place that suggests a little, moveable platform for the mouse above the numeric keypad. How's that going to fit on my under-desk keyboard shelf?
So, for now I have raised my chair and put a stand for the mouse to my right. It's lower than the desk and I have finally achieved a position that allows me to mouse with my wrist slightly lower than my elbow. It seems to be helping. But, my thighs are tingling and getting cold from having the circulation cut off. One website suggested sitting on a stool with your legs at a 135 deg angle. That might work, but the only stool I have is too high.
And glasses fit somewhere in this equation. Anyone have any experience with stuff and have any suggestions? Cheap ones please, 'cause we're broke at the moment.
I've been searching the web for info on ergonomic workstations. But, some of it is clearly bullshit, and most of it is contradictory. E.g., forearms should be angled slightly downward, parallel to your thighs. Feet should be flat on the floor or on a footrest, so you don't cut off the circulation in your thighs. Once I get the chair high enough that my arms are in the right postion, there is barely room for my thighs. Now add the foot rest to get the weight of my legs off my thighs and I just don't fit. Next suggestion is to have the space bar centred to your body. That seems like a good idea. Put the mouse to the side of the keyboard that is comfortable and close enough that you don't have to reach. Helloooo, there's a numeric keypad on the right side of my keyboard and if my mouse is to the right of that, I'm reaching again. Oh, here's a place that suggests a little, moveable platform for the mouse above the numeric keypad. How's that going to fit on my under-desk keyboard shelf?
So, for now I have raised my chair and put a stand for the mouse to my right. It's lower than the desk and I have finally achieved a position that allows me to mouse with my wrist slightly lower than my elbow. It seems to be helping. But, my thighs are tingling and getting cold from having the circulation cut off. One website suggested sitting on a stool with your legs at a 135 deg angle. That might work, but the only stool I have is too high.
And glasses fit somewhere in this equation. Anyone have any experience with stuff and have any suggestions? Cheap ones please, 'cause we're broke at the moment.
