Using ergonomic furniture in your office

Work is stressful enough, so finding furniture that can help you be more productive is a definite plus when you're looking at office space. If you're comfortable and healthy, your work tends to follow suit. We tend to be more productive when we're comfortable and healthy.

Many of us overlook the importance of good ergonomic furniture in our office, but there are many health issues that can be attributed to using uncomfortable and non-user friendly furniture in your workspace. Symptoms such as stress on your muscles and joints, fatigue, pain in your wrists, hands, arms, shoulders, neck or back and eye strain are common in office environments that don't follow good ergonomic guidelines.

There are several basic items that Ergonomists agree upon as being the best ways to improve your workspace. Check these tips out to help design your new office space:
How will the computer be used and who will be using it? Computer features are best when optimized for one person's size and shape. How long will the computer be in use? If it's more than a few minutes a day, ergonomic efficiency may be a high priority. With the sedentary lifestyle of many Americans already, creating a good environment for those endless hours of computer work will be very important.

Desktop computer vs. Laptop. Guidelines differ for the differing types of computers so if you plan to use your laptop on a daily basis, you may want to consider: an external monitor, an external keyboard with tilting tray and a docking station. This will make your layout more comfortable for sustained use.

Use furniture that is stable and has adequate room for proper arrangement. Consider using a keyboard/mouse tray for your work surface and try to keep the flat desk surface between 28"-30" above the floor.

Chairs should be comfortable and provide a good backrest with lumbar support. Studies show that the best seated poster is a reclining position of 100-110 degrees, not upright at 90 degrees. This is relaxed, sustainable sitting whereas erect sitting will become uncomfortable quickly. Armrests on chairs can be helpful for getting in and out of the chair and for actually resting the arms from time to time. Ideally you should be able to get armrests out of your way when you need access to your keyboard or mouse.

Keep paper documents as well as the computer monitor at similar angles. Your monitor should be placed directly in front of you, not angled or off to the left or right of your workspace. Put the monitor at a comfortable height that doesn't require tilting the head either up or down to see it. Monitors should be at a comfortable distance for viewing, typically within arm's length. Use a good quality screen that keeps text characters looking sharp. Adjusting the screen resolution and refresh rates may be necessary to get optimal results.

Posture is the basis of a good ergonomic workstation. Good posture is the best way to avoid unnecessary injuries at your desk.

You should :

• Be able to reach the keyboard keys with flat wrists. You should have your elbows angled at no more than 90 degrees to avoid nerve compression
• Be able to have your upper arm and elbow as close to the body and relaxed as possible for use. Keep your wrist as straight as possible when using the mouse as well.
  
• Be able to sit back in a chair with good back support. Place feet flat upon the floor or on a foot rest
  
• Keep your head and neck as straight as possible when using your workspace
  
• Keep your posture relaxed and comfortable
  
• Lighting in the office space should not be too bright and there should not be any bright glare on the computer screen. Make sure your monitor is not positioned in front of a bright window.
  
• Keep your computer somewhere that has adequate ventilation so you stay comfortable while working.
  
• Noise can cause stress and make your muscles tenser while working so try to choose a quiet place for your workstation away from the hustle of the outside office.

A good ergonomic workstation arrangement will allow users to work in a neutral, relaxed position that will minimize the risk of any injury. More than anything it's about keeping good posture in order to maximize your comfort level while staying in any one position for a long period of time.