Table of Contents
Index
Your Chair
Your chair should fit your body size and shape, and adjust for differ-
ent activities (such as typing, writing, and talking on the phone). Your
chair should help you maintain your spine's natural curves. Adjust
your environment to fit you, alter your working positions throughout
the day, and vary the tasks you do so you're not in any one position too
long.
You should be able to sit all the way back against your chair’s back
and be able to move your knees and lower legs freely. The seat should
be low enough for your feet to rest flat on the floor yet high enough to
support your thighs. Choose a chair that you can adjust to suit your
body, instead of changing your posture to fit the chair. Chairs with
multiple adjustments are beneficial.
The chair should provide support to your lumbar region (at your
waist). If you recline even slightly, you also should have support for
your mid back, at the base of your shoulder blades. Ultimately, the
design of your chair — and how well you use it — can have a significant
effect on your comfort and health.
Taking frequent breaks to stand and move your head, neck, shoulders,
arms, and legs is a simple routine you can do. Move your body to work
out the kinks.
Work Surface
Like office chairs, desks and other work surfaces are available in a
bewildering assortment of configurations, ranging from basic, utili-
tarian models to complicated designs with adjustable shelves and cub-
byholes. No matter what style you prefer, choose one that's
appropriate for your body size, and make sure that there's ample work
area for your display, keyboard, and other peripherals.
If you use a desk, there should be at least 2 inches of clearance
between the tops of your thighs and the underside of the desktop or
the keyboard tray. Keyboard trays are helpful, particularly for desks
that aren't adjustable, but they should have enough room for your key-
board and pointing device. Your desk or keyboard tray should leave
enough clearance for your thighs but should not be so high that your
wrists bend upward or you raise your forearms.
