Comments on: Ow, My Back! Test Your Workspace Ergonomics (And Save Your Back)

By: Aetututu

Aetututu — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:10:23 +0000

Ergonomics is very important for improved health when a person’s job function involves the use of computers to minimize the dangers of various kinds of computer related injuries.
I suffered serious vision, nerve and other serious injuries in 2006 partly due to ergonomic issues. There were many more issues that needed to be addressed that I did not know about until after the event. I find that it is easier to accept change when the reason given for change is explained in a manner that hits home.
I have actually written a book “Lessons I Learned the Hard Way – How to identify, minimize, manage and treat computer related health issue” it is available at http://www.strategicbookpublishing.com/LessonsILearnedtheHardWay.html. I believe it is a must read for all computer users. I have written this book to alert others to the health dangers inherent in computer use and explain solutions such as ergonomics exercises etc. I hope you get hold of a copy. I can be reached at lessonsilearnedthehardway@gmail.com for further discussions. I wish you all the best.

By: northern.omegaman@yahoo.com

northern.omegaman@yahoo.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:47:58 +0000

I’m having a lot of problems with my work station at home. I’m not sure if these guidelines apply to using a laptop. With a laptop it seems impossible to have the screen and the keyboard at the correct height. If I raise the laptop to make the screen the correct height then the keyboard will be too high.

Help!

By: jont17

jont17 — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:29:52 +0000

I find yoga is a great help with sitting at a desk all day!

By: peach

peach — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:48:12 +0000

I haven never paid attention to this but I answered yes to all questions but one. (I don’t have a document holder for paper. but I don’t print much since I have a good multi monitor setup)

By: Michael Edson, MS, L.Ac.

Michael Edson, MS, L.Ac. — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:05:03 +0000

Along with proper ergonomics, taking regular breaks from the computer to do eye exercises can help prevent or reduce the effects of computer eye strain. Our eyes and vision were designed for viewing distance as hunters and gatherers, and not for ongoing near work as required by regular computer use. As a result, Computer Eye Strain is becoming one of the major eye complaints heard by eye doctors today. Symptoms can include increased myopia, blurred vision, headaches, slow refocusing, difficulty concentrating, neck, shoulder and back pain Eye strain can be reduced significantly by taking regular breaks from the computer, resting your eyes, stretching and doing eye exercises. For a demo of 3 great eye exercises by Dr. Grossman, one of the Country's leading behavioral optometrists, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W10j2fL0hy0 Dr. Grossman also offers his free eye exercise booklet at his website at Natural Eye Care Free Eye Exercises with his 11 favorite eye exercises and acupressure eye points to massage regularly. Finally, there is also an excellent section at his website on "Computer Eye Strain" under "Eye Diseases" that provides a Computer Eye Strain “Self-Help“ section with great tips of relieving eyestrain due to computer use. Also, a few research studies show that supplementing with 6mg per day of astaxanthin per day significantly improved eye strain at week 2 and 4 of the test period. For more information, go to Natural Eye Care for Computer Eye Strain

By: Alyssa Gregory

Alyssa Gregory — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:24:40 +0000

@bpdobson I think the concept is that using the keyboard instead of the mouse limits the repetitive motion from clicking. But if you’re not used to using shortcuts, it definitely takes longer and probably doesn’t make much sense.

By: glenngould

glenngould — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:23:51 +0000

Pretty well, but does using keyboard shortcuts really make a difference? I find using my mouse takes much less effort.

Well, I think it’s a valid advice only when you are primarily using the keyboard (typing, coding etc.) and need to switch between mouse/keyboard frequently.

By: glenngould

glenngould — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:16:06 +0000

Sorry it should be “I even use my wrist” above.
Anyway when will we be able to edit our comments, at least for a short period of time?

By: glenngould

glenngould — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:12:44 +0000

I just tried and cannot believe someone is really doing this:

I use my elbow instead of my wrist to move the mouse…

Actually I even use my elbow ‘minimally’, moving the mouse with my ‘off-button fingers’.

Replacing this with elbow-movement would be way too much effort. But that can make me tired, so maybe that’s the point of that advice :D

(Offtopic: this is a correct advice for table tennis.)

By: Lacy Lee

Lacy Lee — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:42:48 +0000

Wonderful! It is important to have a good workspace . Every body, come.