Ergonomic Tools For Work [Infographic]

Megan Wilson http://www.quill.com 3m 821 #ergonomics

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

Ergonomic Tools That Change The Way You Work

There are lots of ways you can improve your work environment, from a refreshed and dressed-up cube to more healthful lunches and regular breaks but one change that will absolutely revolutionize your work day? Ergonomic tools.

For starters, ergonomic equipment is good for your health. It affects the way your hands and arms work and reduces repetitive injuries as well as stress.

Every piece of ergonomic equipment has particular design elements that will make it work better for your individual circumstance. Once you’ve selected the best one for you, there are guidelines to using ergonomic elements, too.

The mouse is a good example. From its grip to its buttons, an ergonomic mouse will work with the natural design of your hand. There are several different types of mouse, and you should try each one before committing to a version. Then, there are ways that you can choose to use the mouse that can help your body work in tandem with it—ensuring lots of room, the tilt of your wrist.

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Another essential element for an ergonomic work place? A keyboard. Again, as with the mouse, there are different setups and types of an ergonomic keyboard, as well as tips to use it optimally.

Use this graphic as a good starting point to revamp your approach to keyboard, mouse, and other pieces of ergonomic office equipment.

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ERGONOMIC TOOLS

That change the way you work

Research shows good equipment can help eliminate many postural risks associated with computer use.

Ergonomic mice and keyboards are designed to put people in am ore neutral position which:

Improves hand, wrist, and arm comfort
Reduces strain
Helps prevent and alleviate long-term repetitive stress injuries

The key to more ergonomic keyboard and mouse use is to keep the arms straight out in front of the body, rather than with elbows bowed out and wrists at an unnatural angle.

TIPS FOR USING AN ERGONOMIC MOUSE.

Choose a mouse that:

First your hand
Maintains a neutral positioning of the hand and wrist
Has buttons that neither cramp the fingers nor spreads them out too far apart
Has buttons that respond to a light torch, so you don’t have to press too hard to make it work
Is the right size to support the natural curve of your hand

Hold the mouse gently.
Use your elbow as a pivot point and keep your wrist straight and neutral.
Avoid putting too much pressure on the blood vessels near the skin at the wrist (where we often take our pulse).
Avoid restricting arm movement, which can encourage flicking of the wrist.
Choose a mouse design that fits your hand but is as flat as possible to reduce wrist extension.
Make sure there is plenty of room for the mouse to move.
If possible, use the mouse for some time in each hand.

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VERTICAL MOUSE

Good for people who spend more than a few hours a day on a computer
Reduces the strain on your hands and wrist tendons by eliminating the “claw” or “clamp” grip
Creates a more neutral “handshake” grip

TRACKBALL MOUSE

Good for workstations with limited space
Uses a ball to move the cursor, which allows the arm and hand to be held in one place

JOYSTICK MOUSE

Keeps the hand and wrist in a neutral position
Promotes the use of larger muscles of the arm and shoulder

TOUCH PAD

Allows the user to do most tasks with hands at the midline of the body
Reduces strain on the shoulders

Ergonomic Keyboard Options

TIPS FOR USING A COMPUTER KEYBOARD:

Keep the keyboard directly in front of you with the “B” key as the center point
Situate the mouse as close to the keyboard as possible
Tilt the keyboard back 10 degrees so your wrists remain flat
Adjust your chair with your arms bent at or near a 90-degree angle so the wrists don’t bend when typing
Consider a desk with a keyboard tray

CURVED KEYBOARD

Wide and deep, so good for people with broader shoulders and/or longer arms
Offers a similar feel and layout to conventional keyboards

SPLIT KEYBOARD

Good for people with large upper body mass and/or short arms
Typically good for travel
Offers neutral wrist alignment
Accommodates a wide range of body types

MINI KEYBOARD

Good for people with small to medium frames, people who have limited workspace, or for travel
Reduces reach to mouse
Allows for best use of space when on the go

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