I have been typing professionally for a living for almost 40 years, and along the way I’ve learned a thing or two about ergonomics (enough to realize I have a lot more to learn).
Today I got a message from an ailing friend looking for advice for purchasing a better working chair, and this is how I replied:
- It’s as much about the software as the hardware. In my experience, $500 on a chair + $500 on an ergonomics expert to advise (and show you how to use the chair) is a better long-term investment than $1000 on a chair.
- There is no better antidote than not working so much. No chair has been invented that will make working a 12 hour day with no breaks possible.
- It might not be the chair: the keyboard, the monitor, your mousing device, and their relative positions, can all contribute to unexpected pain in unexpected places.
- You need to spend the $500 on the ergonomics expert every year because you will forget everything they tell you.
I’ve be using my current desk chair since 2010; it comes from Chairs Limited in Dartmouth, a firm that has the advantage of being able to customize extensively.
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I am Peter Rukavina and this is my blog. I am a writer, letterpress printer, and a curious person.
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Comments
Hello Peter. Someone brought
Hello Peter. Someone brought this post to my attention and it made me happy! I am still new to my business, which is primarily health and safety for the office environment, which of course is largely centred around ergonomics. So very happy to see someone other than a provider talking about the importance of consulting with someone who knows! And you're quite right on so many points. One can't always assume the problem - something as simple as the height of the desk can necessitate a whole chain reaction of poor postures that set someone up for injury/discomfort. I'd be happy to help with your annual check up and it won't even cost $500! Tell your friend too!
Also, I wanted to point out that your desk is upside down.
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