Why Opt for a Highly Adjustable Office?
It's not hard to love adjustable things. After all, nothing feels better than adjusting your shower to the perfect temperature, or adjusting the stove element to simmer that impeccable risotto, or adjusting your washer to delicate so it wont shrink your favorite clothes.
These little changes let you relax and perform tasks better! Now that you are day dreaming about your comfy home let’s bring you back to the office. Who knows, by the end of this blog you might be raving about your office adjustments, too (or in 2 to 3 business days).
This may be shocking information but having the liberty to make adjustments to your work station can affect you the same way it does at home. By that we mean being able to relax and increase performance!
Still skeptical? Let us elaborate by going through highly used products in the office and listing how they can affect you physically and, in turn, how this affects your performance.
Monitor
If your monitor is too low it can cause neck flexion which causes unnecessary tension to your neck.
If your monitor is too high it causes neck extension which causes unnecessary tension to your neck.
Keyboard
If your keyboard is too high it will lead to:
• Shoulder shrugging which increases tension.
• Extreme elbow flexion which puts the arms in an awkward position.
• Wrist compression which can turn into carpal tunnel syndrome.
If your keyboard is too low you'll experience:
• Shoulder depression, also known as hunched back, which increases pressure on your back and shoulders.
• Wrist flexion which leads to compression.
Desk
If your desk is made for the average person, and you are shorter or taller than the average person, it leads to less than optimal positions for your whole set-up.
Chairs
If your armrests are too high you'll end up shoulder shrugging which increases tension in this area.
If your armrests are too low it'll lead to shoulder depression, also known as hunched back, which increases pressure to your back and shoulders.
If your back support is too high/low or too far forward/back it causes back tension due to lack of support.
If your seat is too far forward/back it'll lead to:
• Knee compression which leads to discomfort.
• Leg tension due to lack of support.
If your chair height is too low/high you'll experience extreme flexion or extension of the hips, knees and ankles which decreases comfort.
When you are in discomfort or in a state of unnecessary physical tension all day long you'll have a hard time completing cognitive tasks. An extreme example would be an employee taking a leave of absence as a result of extreme back pain; this employee would not be able to perform their tasks.
In conclusion, if you are feeling some type of discomfort while working, adjusting your workstation may be the solution for you. Keep in mind that correcting a poor office set up is also good for people that aren’t in any discomfort; prevention is a measure we love at ErgoMania.
To learn more about setting up your office to suit your needs, search through the directory of Ergonomists, send an email to Ergomania at info@myergomania.com with all your burning questions or you can check this blog out to learn more about a proper setup at home.