The Human Body is a Complicated Piece of Machinery

The human body is a complicated piece of machinery.  It can be truly remarkable in its ability to be manipulated and to perform many tasks.  However the body can also break down, both by traumatic injury and by repetitive stress injury.  Repetitive stress injury, or RSI, refers to damage to the nerves, muscles and tendons of the body by the repeated application of force.  It can also be influenced by awkward positioning.  Even people whose job it is to work at a desk all day can damage their bodies if they position themselves poorly.  Ergonomic furniture is designed to position the body in such a way as to reduce the potential for repetitive stress injuries.

Working at a desk all day can cause a series of problems, including lower back pain, neck pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.  The lower back pain is cause by not sitting properly.  A necessary piece of ergonomic furniture is a good chair.  This should be able to be adjusted for the user so that they can sit with their legs bent at a 90 – 105 degree angle and their feet flat on the ground.  When sitting properly in the chair the user’s upper legs should extend two inches at the knee beyond the edge of the seat.  And finally the seat should have sufficient lumbar back support.  One feature that is nice to have if you are typing is armrests, as it can reduce the strain on your elbows and help keep your shoulder up and prevent you from becoming hunched over.

Besides a chair, the other component of ergonomic computer furniture is the desk.  This desk should allow you to arrange the monitor, the mouse and the keyboard in such a way and to reduce the pressure on your wrists and neck.  The monitor should be raised up so that the top of the monitor is at eye level.  This keeps the head up and prevents pain in the back of the neck.  The keyboard should be able to be positioned such that it is at the same level as the user’s elbows.  The mouse should also be able to be used at this level.  There are several designs of desks and workstations that allow for the proper placement of the keyboard and the monitor.

Repetitive stress injuries are not limited to the workplace, however.  Thus you may need ergonomic home furniture.  By visiting our website at www.ErgoBack.com, you can browse through our extensive online catalog to find furnishing that are appropriate for your home, home/office or apartment.

About Us

This blog is sponsored by ErgoBack, a company committed to providing ergonomically designed products including chairs and desks for the home/&office. We believe promoting ergonomic health in people's everyday lives is an important part of keeping individuals happy and healthy. Visit our online store at www.ErgoBack.com for the best deals on ergonomic chairs, desk, computer stations, and more.

Ergonomic Office Furniture & You!

Today many companies strive only to use ergonomic office furniture.  These include chairs and workstations that are designed to increase employee comfort and reduce the potential for the types of injuries that are caused by the repetition of awkward movements and positioning.

Modern ergonomic furniture comes in a variety of styles.  There are executive desks for the management, workstations for the staffers, and reception desks for the entrance area.  Each has a different set of requirements in terms of appearance and work area.  However, if properly designed, they will all serve to position their users in such a way that their bodies are kept in a more natural state.  Of particular importance is that the keyboard and the monitor are kept at the correct height for their user.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and various types of tendinitis can result from operating a computer in an awkward position.  For anyone who spends a lot of time working at a computer, it will not be sufficient to place the computer on top of a table or desk.  By doing so you raise the keyboard too high and set the monitor too low.  A proper desk will allow you to arrange your computer in order to reduce the stresses on your body.  This is especially true for laptop computers.  By making them portable, one has lost the flexibility that one gets by separating the various components.  If you use your laptop for long periods of time at your desk, consider investing in a laptop workstation.  By using a separate keyboard and a laptop stand, you can gain the benefits of a proper computer arrangement while still retaining the portability that you need.

Proper seating is key to maintaining a healthy staff.  Traditional work space chairs had the tendency to cause lower back pain.  Your employees will probably be spending a great deal of their time sitting.  By supplying them with a well designed chair you will increase their productivity.

Another consideration when designing an effective work space is lighting.  Lighting that flickers or that is too bright or too dim can cause eye strain.  This leads to fatigue, which of course will greatly reduce effectiveness.

When shopping for ergonomic office furniture you will find the largest selection at www.ErgoBack.com.   When you combine our extensive catalog with our low prices, you have an unbeatable combination.  Visit us today to see how we can help your work environment.

About Us

This blog is sponsored by ErgoBack, a company committed to providing ergonomically designed products including chairs and desks for the home/&office. We believe promoting ergonomic health in people's everyday lives is an important part of keeping individuals happy and healthy. Visit our online store at www.ErgoBack.com for the best deals on ergonomic chairs, desk, computer stations, and more.

Why Use an Ergonomic Mouse?

Using the computer and surfing on the internet is now a necessity in many jobs, as well as being a great way to spend time, research, or get the news. However, many commonly used software programs, especially web browsers, make extensive use of mice as a primary means of data input.  This has lead to many people suffering from repetitive stress injuries caused by the unnatural positioning of the wrist while using these devices.  The solution is to use an ergonomic computer mouse that is designed to be used with a more natural wrist and hand position. These encourage the user to move their arm, rather than just twisting or turning the wrist, avoiding repetitive stress injuries.

There are many designs for an ergonomic mouse on the market today.  These include simple variations of the traditional design that do not cramp the hand or require the wrist to be bent at awkward angles.  Other designs are more unusual, but while they may look odd, your hand will appreciate the decreased stress.

Another device that can be used to replace the mice in your office is the track ball.  Many people find these to be easier to use for prolonged periods of time. Each solution takes some time to become accustomed to the new device, as many people click a certain way out of habit, but once you are used to the position of the buttons, it is a very quick transition.

Some people think that by simply switching to an ergonomic mouse they can avoid carpal tunnel system.  It may also be necessary to change the location of the device.  Many people use their mice on top of their desks.  This is often too high a position.  A better solution is to move the mouse, if there is enough space, to the keyboard tray next to the keyboard.

Another way to reduce the stress on your wrist is with an ergonomic mouse pad.  This device commonly has a padded support for you to rest your wrist on.  Some of the wrist supports are even designed to move around to allow complete freedom of movement by the arm. This prevents the wrist from having to move unnaturally, or from repeatedly making the same motions.

The best selection for anyone looking for an ergonomic computer mouse can be found online at www.ErgoBack.com.  Come browse through our extensive catalog to see the products that we have to make your workplace a little less stressful.

About Us

This blog is sponsored by ErgoBack, a company committed to providing ergonomically designed products including chairs and desks for the home/&office. We believe promoting ergonomic health in people's everyday lives is an important part of keeping individuals happy and healthy. Visit our online store at www.ErgoBack.com for the best deals on ergonomic chairs, desk, computer stations, and more.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

As more and more workplaces require computers, more and more workers need to type regularly as part of their jobs. Along with this increased use of technology, new designs in workstations and office furniture and equipment have followed. An ergonomic computer keyboard has been designed to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.  Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve in the wrist compresses, resulting in pain and weakness in the hands.  It can be caused by repetitive and awkward positioning of the wrists.  Working at a computer has been shown to cause carpal tunnel syndrome.  This is because the wrists are often held at an awkward angle for a prolonged period of time during typing.  Repetitive stress injuries can also occur, from repeated movements and twists of the wrists during typing. Even the smallest movements can cause strain over a period of time.

By keeping the wrists straight during typing, one can reduce the strain that causes carpal tunnel syndrome.  This restricts movement to the fingers, and causes the hands to do less work. This is of great benefit to anyone wanting to maintain a high level of productivity.  It also reduces the need for the many creams and other products which are marketed to sooth aching wrists and joints from a day of work. Working in an office should be a safe place to work.

There are several styles of the ergonomic computer keyboard available on the market today.  Microsoft produces a popular design that arranges the keys in a v shape in order to keep the wrists straight.  More exotic designs can involve curved surfaces in all three dimensions.  There are even devices that resemble a ball with a QWERTY style layout wrapped around it.

It can take some time to get used to an ergonomic computer keyboard.  At first, it may not seem natural to use one of these new designs.  This may temporarily lower productivity. However, after a period of time, you will find that you are able to continue working comfortably at it for longer that you would be able to at a traditional layout.

So if you are looking to improve your office working environment, and even want a difficult to find black ergonomic keyboard to match your decor, be sure to visit www.ErgoBack.com.   We have a variety of products to make your office a healthy and efficient place.

About Us

This blog is sponsored by ErgoBack, a company committed to providing ergonomically designed products including chairs and desks for the home/&office. We believe promoting ergonomic health in people's everyday lives is an important part of keeping individuals happy and healthy. Visit our online store at www.ErgoBack.com for the best deals on ergonomic chairs, desk, computer stations, and more.

Carpal Tunnel and Your Computer Keyboard

Many people spend hours every day typing on their computers while working or at home.  This can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.  Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive stress injury where the median nerve in the wrist is compressed.  This leads to the sensation of tingling and pain in the hand, and can also cause weakness in the hand.  The wrist positions that people use while typing can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome.  This is obviously a problem, as evidenced by the number of creams on the market to treat people’s sore wrists. As a solution, several companies have developed an ergonomic keyboard that causes the typist to hold their hands in a more natural position, preventing stress injuries.

There are a number of different designs, and perhaps the most famous ergonomic keyboard design is the one marketed by Microsoft.  Here the keys are split up into two groupings, one for each hand.  These are angled so that they form a v shape.  This angle allows the typist to keep their wrists straight in relation to their arms, making typing for prolonged periods more comfortable. Obviously this arrangement can slow typing speed while the typist becomes accustomed to the shape, the end result will be a more efficient and more comfortable worker, as sore wrists can slow typing as well as being painful.

Another type of computer equipment that were found to cause repetitive stress injuries are mice. These can be very useful, especially while web-browsing, or just in day to day formation of spreadsheets or using design software. However, the angle that the wrist naturally twists at to use this convenience is unnatural. The solution was the design of an ergonomic keyboard mouse.  These also serve to adjust the wrist position so that it remains in line with the arm, making it less likely for the wrist to move or twist. Using a mouse once or twice may not seem like your wrist moves enough to be injured, but the same motion repeated can cause injury to the nerves, making it impossible to work until the wrist has healed.

If you spend the majority of your day working at a computer, you might want to consider purchasing an ergonomic keyboard. Visit us online at www.ErgoBack.com to see our selection of computer equipment that can make your job easier and increase your productivity.

About Us

This blog is sponsored by ErgoBack, a company committed to providing ergonomically designed products including chairs and desks for the home/&office. We believe promoting ergonomic health in people's everyday lives is an important part of keeping individuals happy and healthy. Visit our online store at www.ErgoBack.com for the best deals on ergonomic chairs, desk, computer stations, and more.

Kneeling ergonomic stool design arose in Norway in the 1970’s

Many jobs nowadays require a lot of sitting and standing in one place, as well as a lot of repeated motions, such as typing at a computer. This can cause unexpected injuries to office workers, who do not always realize that their comfortable job could cause them to injure their back or joints. Ergonomic office equipment is designed to reduce the potential for injury caused by repetitive or awkward positioning.  It can consist of everything from chairs that support the back properly, to keyboards and keyboard trays that prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, or to lighting that is easier on the eyes by reducing glare.  The first piece of furniture that gained recognition in this field is the ergonomic stool.  These put the users in a kneeling position that shifted the hips forward.  By doing so, they reduced the stress on the lower spine. This allows people to sit for prolonged periods without damaging their back.

The design of the kneeling ergonomic stool arose in Norway in the 1970’s.  It appeared in North America in the next decade, and new and more precise developments have been coming out in these items of furniture and others. By increasing the angle between the thigh and the back, they encourage better posture and reduce strain on the muscles of the lower back. These pieces of furniture can appear odd or confusing, but at the end of the day, the result will be a healthier spine and a comfortable back.

Many office chairs are now considered ergonomic.  However, they still generally do not prevent slouching, which can lead to bad posture and back pain. While many people think they already sit with proper posture, a lot of seats actually are more comfortable to slouch or slump in than to sit properly in. As well, a long day in a chair can cause people to stop paying attention to sitting properly. A well designed chair or other seat will encourage good posture and lead to a stronger back, which will allow people to work more efficiently and reduce the need for days off work due to lower back injuries.

When you visit www.ErgoBack.com, be sure to check out our wide selection of ergonomic seating.  From chairs to more exotic seating arrangements, we have the solutions for your office design.   Look through our catalog for other products to help make your workplace a healthier place.

About Us

This blog is sponsored by ErgoBack, a company committed to providing ergonomically designed products including chairs and desks for the home/&office. We believe promoting ergonomic health in people's everyday lives is an important part of keeping individuals happy and healthy. Visit our online store at www.ErgoBack.com for the best deals on ergonomic chairs, desk, computer stations, and more.

Ergonomic Office Seating

Today our economy has been described as knowledge based.  A large percentage of the workforce spends most of their time sitting at a desk in front of a computer.  Combine this with the sitting most of us do in our free time, either in the car or in front of the television, or at computers at home, and this means that we place a lot of stress on our lower backs.  Our bodies are not designed to sit for 8 – 10 hours a day, and doing so can potentially cause injuries. By using ergonomic seating in workplaces, we can reduce the amount of stress on our bodies.  This will keep us healthier and more productive, and reduce potential injuries.

Ergonomic office seating comes in a wide variety of styles and prices to match any office needs. These can be a good addition to a well designed workstation, and allow workers to be more comfortable while working. When one thinks of ergonomic seating, one often thinks of the kneeling stools.  These were the first type to get widely noticed.  Today, this description is applied to many more modern chairs, which are available in a variety of styles. These provide varying amounts of support.

There are some considerations that one should take into account when looking for ergonomic office seating.  You should choose a chair that is properly sized for the user.  A good rule of thumb is that the height of the chair seat should be one quarter the height of the user.  Of course, not everyone has the same body shape, so this rule is not necessarily hard and fast.  A more convenient solution might be to get an adjustable chair that the user can set to the correct height. This is more useful for an office where multiple people might share a workstation, or for conference room chairs. Another feature you should be looking for is adjustable arm rests.  Obviously arm rests are not suitable for all applications, but they are a good idea for anyone working at a computer.  By choosing adjustable arm rests, you allow them to be set to the correct height for whoever is sitting in the chair.

When you are in the market for ergonomic seating, be sure to check out www.ErgoBack.com.  We have a large selection of chairs, workstations and other office furnishing that are designed with your health and safety in mind. These can be an asset to any well designed office.

About Us

This blog is sponsored by ErgoBack, a company committed to providing ergonomically designed products including chairs and desks for the home/&office. We believe promoting ergonomic health in people's everyday lives is an important part of keeping individuals happy and healthy. Visit our online store at www.ErgoBack.com for the best deals on ergonomic chairs, desk, computer stations, and more.