MAXIMIZING WORK STATION COMFORT
Do you have a job that requires you to sit for the majority of the day? Do you find yourself having aches and pains in your neck and back? If so, you may want to read on to find a few simple exercises to interject during your workday to combat the negative effects of prolonged sitting. As the day wears on, especially if you do not take enough rest breaks, gravity will cause you to slump down and acquire a rounded shoulder, forward head posture. This is especially true during computer use. Additionally, you will also want to make sure your work station is optimally set up to decrease the risk of eye and neck strain. A few pointers for proper posture at your desk include the following
When sitting, make sure your hips are slightly higher than your knees so your thigh is on a “down slope,” with your feet flat on the floor. This will help keep you in an upright position with the least amount of demand on your postural muscles. Your elbows should be supported by the arm rests and should not push your shoulders into a “shrugged” position.
Your upper arms should rest at your sides and elbows bent. You should be able to reach your keyboard in this position without reaching your arms much farther forward.
Everything you use often should be in your “frequent reach zone,” which is defined as the space you can reach in front and to the side, with your arms resting at your sides. Things used less frequently should be placed in your “occasional reach zone” which can be defined as an arm’s length in front or to the side which can be reached without requiring any additional bending or leaning.
While OSHA recommends the monitor be about an arm’s length away, we recommend placing your monitor as close as possible to improve ease of viewing and decreasing eye strain. Think of it as a similar distance to that you would hold a book or newspaper from your eyes. The top of your monitor should be placed slightly below eye level so it promotes a slightly downward gaze. If you are using a laptop, you will never be able to achieve an ideal ergonomic situation without utilizing either an external keyboard or monitor.
A few exercises you may want to try during the day:
A few exercises you may want to try during the day:
Shoulder Roll: up, back, down 5 x every hour
Neck rotation: turn your head side to side, 3 times each side, every hour
Seated hip hinge: scoot to the edge of your chair and place your hands on your knees. Keep your back very straight, and hinge forward from the hips. Hold 1 second, do 5 times every hour.
Try to get up and walk around every hour, even for a short walk to get some water or use the restroom.
2 times a day (this should take you 3.5 minutes)
Chin tucks: sitting up tall, gently tuck your chin about 5 degrees, hold 5 seconds, do 5 reps 2 times during your work day.
Wrist extensor stretch: With your R arm out in front of you, palp down, wrist bent, apply over pressure with left hand until a stretch is felt in the back of the R forearm Hold 30 seconds, do 1 times each side 2 x during your work day
Wrist flexor stretch: with your R arm out in front of you, palm down, bend your wrist up and apply over pressure to your fingers with your left hand until a stretch is felt in the front of your forearm do 1 time each side 2 x during your work day.
Seated figure 4 piriformis stretch: scoot to the edge of your chair and place your right leg over your left so to form a “figure 4.” Keep your back straight as in the previous exercise, and lean forward until you feel a stretch in your R buttock. Hold 30 seconds, do 1 time each side, 2 times during your work day.