Computer Comfort

In a recent Microsoft survey, 73% of respondents named their keyboard and mouse as the things they touched most during the day. Half of all respondents said they’ve experienced discomfort using a computer.

If you spend most of your day in front of a computer, Dan Odell, a Microsoft ergonomist, offers these tips for avoiding injury:

Adjust your chair so your feet are firmly on the ground.

Set your keyboard at elbow height. “We see more discomfort in the shoulders and neck than in the hands and wrists,” says Odell. “If your desk is too high, you tend to hold your arms up over the desk, which results in an extra load on your shoulders.”

Avoid extreme reaches. If the mouse is too far away, your shoulder is really rotated when you use it, comments Odell.

Look for products designed for comfort such as a padded wrist rest or a mouse that fits the relaxed posture of the hand.

Don’t ignore even minor discomfort. According to Odell, any misalignment can add up.