Ergonomics

Tutorials

Good Ergonomics is Essential

Your body positioning, posture and types of movement are essential parts of your efficiency of typing skills and work. The term "ergonomics" is a broad range term encompassing many factors to do with the design of the environment, equipment, movement processes, and your physical posture and positioning.

In this section of the typing tutorials, we will consider the ergonomics that are essential in assisting you to become more productive in your typing, and those aspects that are important to your overall long term health while using the computer and keyboards.

Remember that most people only realize that there is a problem with their positioning, posture and movement once the problem is already there!

Yes

Quick Self-Test:

Do You?

 If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then using good ergonomic principles for computer use is essential to you.
Sit and work on the computer for long periods (more than an hour) without getting up to move around and take a break
Work on your computer every day
Use the same chair, keyboard and mouse pointing device every time you work on the computer
Work on the computer at school / work and at home
Experience any discomfort in your joints and arms / legs, or vision strain while working on the computer
Use the same repetitive movements frequently such as reaching for objects, typing on the keys, using the mouse, and picking up objects

Problems related to poor ergonomics:

  • Joint strain and sensory problems from repetitive movement or static positions
  • Pain in muscles and joints mostly of the back, neck, arms
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue and poor endurance
  • Potential development of repetitive strain injury / carpel tunnel syndrome

Taking care of your posture, positioning, movements, and work habits during every work session, even if you don't feel any bad effects or discomfort at the moment, is an important preventive measure.

STOP the problems before they happen by developing good ergonomics.

Essential Ergonomics for Prevention and Productivity

Developing good work habits can set you up for years of productive, pain free work and recreation using computers. Computers are here to stay - we might as well learn to use them in the best way possible. Problems related to computer use, repetitive movements, static and poor postures and inadequate work environments are becoming increasingly prevalent. For some people, the resulting symptoms and health problems of muscle strain, joint and muscle pain, strain and fatigue can be extremely disabling.

Good movement, positioning, posture and environmental setup is an essential preventive measure in reducing the probability of problems resulting from computer use.