Tips for Proper Computer Ergonomics

A lot of people seem to believe that things like posture, and position don’t make a huge 
difference in health, but a careful examination of the wellness of people who have 
developed bad habits with their posture tells a very different story. There are a lot of 
things you can do to protect your general wellness when it comes to the proper ways in 
which you hold your body during activities. Over the next few paragraphs, you’ll find an 
explanation of some good habits that can help keep you from the unpleasant 
consequences of bad posture habits. 

Watch Your Typing Habits 

Over the last 20 years, more and more people have gotten away from proper typing 
technique, which has resulted in many cases of injury. The most common types of 
injuries occur simply because many users tend to use too much force when typing on 
the keyboard. These hundreds and thousands of repeated strikes against the hard 
plastic can cause pain and inflammation in the joints extended up to your wrists. 

Even holding your devices too tightly can cause major disruptions in blood flow and 
swelling in impacted points in your hands. One such example is the strain that comes 
from gripping the mouse to hard. Your hand should be draped over the mouse while 
your hand is relaxed. Another solution would be to try using a different type of pointer 
device like a trackball mouse. 

Wallet Sitting 

Where do you keep your wallet while you are sitting at the computer? If the answer is 
that you have it in your back pocket, then it’s possible that you’ve already noticed that 
you have some back soreness, or that you have a twisted back very suddenly, and 
without any warning.  Specialists warn that imbalance in the way you sit could easily 
throw your body out of alignment. The resulting strain on your hips and lower back 
increases your chances of injury.  
If you begin to feel as though you’ve done this, you can help take the pressure off of 
your lower back by slowly and attentively stretching your hamstrings. 
 
Be Sure to Have Good Posture 

In order to make sure that you’re not straining any parts of your back, it’s essential to 
have good posture. Always sit with your back straight and fully against the back of the 
chair. For good circulation, your feet should rest on top of something. Keep your wrists 
as straight as possible and avoid sudden snappy turns or twists at the waist. 

Repeating the Same Motion Can Cause Injury

Another really important thing to watch for, is any sort of repeated movement. Repeated 
movements can cause inflamed areas or soreness in your joints. Do your best to take 
frequent breaks from these movements by finding another task that you can do from 
time to time to limit the impact on your joint comfort. 

