Health on Computer: How Are Computers Degrading Your Overall Health?

How could a small device such as a laptop or smart phone have such serious long-term effects on your body? Could computers and technology really be negatively affecting your wellbeing? Absolutely! Although these devices may seem harmless (as I'm sure your using one right now as you read this), they can have a serious repercussions over time.

As an ergonomics consultant and a fitness & nutrition enthusiast, I have the opportunity to notice and uncover the HUGE negative impact that computers have on human health. How, you might ask?

There are many risk factors, but I'm going to touch on the most important one which is lack of movement. Your body requires movement. By getting up and regularly moving around, you can solve a lot of these developing issues. One type of risk that develops from lack of movement is musculoskeletal risks (muscles, tendons, joints, bones, eyes). Movement helps increase circulation. The enhanced blood flow delivers fresh oxygen to fatigued areas as well as removes lactic acid that causes discomfort. Movement also keeps your spine healthy. Every time you sit down, your spine begins to lose fluid, leaving you more susceptible to injury. As you get up and move around, your spine regenerates this fluid which reduces compression of your spinal discs and prevents them from rubbing against each other.

Not only can lack of movement cause musculoskeletal risks, it can also affect your cardiovascular system. Technology has continually allowed the human race to become lazy. Instead of walking, we drive cars. Instead of manual labor, we type on computers. Instead of walking in the park, we play video games. Just as the musculoskeletal system requires movement, your cardiovascular system also requires movement (if not more)! The more sedentary lifestyle that one leads, the more susceptible they become to diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, obesity and atherosclerosis.

The final risk factor brought on by lack of movement that I wanted to mention is stress. Many studies suggest that physically active individuals have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary individuals. Unfortunately, if you work at a computer 40-50 hours a week, and watch TV another 10-20 hours, you could already be considered sedentary, even if you exercise regularly. The brain requires movement and caloric expenditure for proper functioning and wellbeing.

These are just a few of the issues that I see every day working with individuals in an office or technology-based job setting. The solution? Get up and move around! Park in the furthest parking spot, drink lots of water to force more bathroom breaks, plan "walking meetings" when possible, and walk or go exercise during your lunch. If you think these risks are going to suddenly disappear, you're wrong unless you do something about it! Be proactive with your health. Incorporate plenty of movement throughout your day, exercise regularly, and watch what you eat.

Patrick Lohman, MS, CSCS, is an ergonomics consultant/fitness and nutrition specialist for many large corporations and small businesses across the U.S. He has worked with thousands of end users, helping them reach their fitness/nutrition goals and finding creative solutions to their health and productivity issues.

Are you a high-duration computer user? Do you suffer from a lack of mental focus, eye strain, back/shoulder/neck discomfort, or other general health risks from your sedentary lifestyle. Try a solution that's customized just for you! Office Strong is a natural dietary supplement that is specifically formulated for the inactive lifestyle of computer users. It works to improve focus, energy, memory, eye health, circulation, nerve function, discomfort, fatigue, and other ergonomic issues. Learn more at http://www.getofficestrong.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/getofficestrong

Original article

Good Ergonomics - How Should You Sit at Your Desk With Your Computer?

On the average, office workers spend 5-6 hours, if not more, sitting in front of a computer at the office everyday. If you often complain about persistent neck, shoulder, or back pains after work, more often than not, bad office ergonomics is to blame. Repetitive motion disorders, body pains and muscles strains, can be caused by bad ergonomics, and if not corrected, may lead to other more serious conditions. Because of this, it is important for you to know how your body should be positioned in your workstation and how your office equipment can help to further improve your comfort and work productivity.

In this article, you would be given some tips and guidelines you should consider while working at your desk, sitting in front of the computer for long hours.

In order to have good ergonomics for the use of your chair you must:

1. Utilize the arm rests. Your chair's arm rests are there for a reason. If you are capable of doing so, place your arms on the arm rests so it will be able to rest properly.

2. Have a lumbar support. This can be a cushion or a pillow needed to support your lumbar in order to avoid back pains. Place the lumbar support just a little space bellow your waistline.

3. Adjust your chair. Adjust your chair that your feet is not hanging on the floor nor too low. Your feet must be able to rest properly on the floor to avoid strains and cramps.

4. Have at least 2-3 inches space between the back of your knees and the edge of your seat.

5. If you can find one, buy a chair with a high board so you can be able to rest your shoulder as well.

In order for you to maximize the good ergonomics of your seat, you must be able to develop a good sitting posture as well. Here are some of the general guidelines in sitting with a correct posture:

1. Lean back and push your hips as far as it can be able to reach on your chair. It is important that your hips have something to lean on in order for it to rest properly.

2. Lean your back at the board of your chair and sit on it at a 100 degree-110 degree angle.

3. Make your hips a little higher than your knees by positioning it properly. Make sure your feet completely rest on the floor.

4. Maintain a straight position on the part of your wrists even if you are typing or using the mouse.

5. Rest your upper arms and let it hang naturally on your shoulders. It will keep you relaxed and strain-free.

Of course, it will be painful to have this position in the whole 8 hours of work. Every 10 minutes of every hour, you can rest for about 30 seconds or so. In this time, you can do stretches or change your position. With these tips and guidelines, you would surely have a very comfortable workstation and you would be able to work more efficiently and productively.

Hi. I'm Rachel Berret, a big advocate seeing an osteopath for your health complaints. I have a great osteopath Melbourne that helps me overcome my own aches and pains such as back pain, neck pains and headaches.

Original article

Selecting the Right Ergonomic Computer Chair to Prevent Low Back Pain Injuries

It is always important to select a computer chair that is suitable ergonomically to sit on that chair for quite a long time for working on computer, and sitting on the wrongly chosen chair can cause severe low back pain injuries. These injuries can sometimes become severe and the only solution to prevent these is to purchase a computer chair that ergonomically maximizes your utility. The purpose of this article is to guide the reader about which criteria has to be followed in order to purchase an ergonomic computer chair.

The use of the computer is extensive in the modern world and everyone is using them. Additionally, everyone needs a perfect environment where he can sit and conveniently work. The importance of choosing an appropriate chair is increased when a low back pain or even injury is at stake. Therefore you must purchase a chair that has proper seat height, which is adjustable up to the finest height. The second most important criterion is to check the width and depth of the seat. The width should definitely fit you in which you are not squeezing, whereas the depth should fit your back resting against the back of the chair. Also, the ergonomic chair must provide you a perfect support from the back. The lower region of the back is the mostly affected part when you are not sitting on to the computer chair correctly. Additionally, the back of the chair should be such that it is adjustable by moving upwards or downwards. Other features you must look for are concerning with the support provided to your arms and head. The final thing you should look for is the topper that covers the chair. You must look for the one that is covered with fine leather or a similar type of fabric for utmost comfort. Not only can a bad chair cause severe back pain, but it can cause neck pain as well and that can become a very serious threat to your overall health and productivity.

The above tips and criteria will definitely help you out in choosing ergonomic computer chair that provides you comfort while working. Many corporations and large business that employ office workers give work benefits such as a number of free chiropractic visits each month. Be sure to use these as much as you can because a chiropractor will realign your spine with your neck and rest of your body, enabling you to be even more comfortable in your office chair and ultimately be a lot more productive.

Read my Hubpage review to find even more useful tips about the ergonomic computer chair.

Original article

Ergonomics and Computer Set Up

The science of workplace ergonomics, health and safety has come a long way over the last couple of decades but there is one thing we must not forget. Whilst there is a best way of setting your workstation up, no amount of ergonomic science is ever going to substitute for taking regular breaks and getting out of your chair. There is no one position you can sit in for hours on end that will not cause you an injury over time. The only position that will keep you safe from injury is the one that is constantly changing.

Bearing this in mind though, here are our suggestions for proper work-station set-up.
When sitting make sure your hips are level of even slightly higher than your knees.
If possible spend some of your time sitting on an unstable surface like a Swiss ball. While this in itself will not correct your posture it keep you moving a little instead of being dead still. If not make sure that you have a fully adjustable chair with good back support. Arm rests often get in the way so a chair is better without.
Work at an adjustable desk that you can alternate between standing and sitting at. There are many work stations that allow you to set the height you want and with the use of the right stool you can easily alternate from standing to sitting throughout the day quite easily.
Be sure to have your computer screen at the right height. If you close your eyes and sit up nice and tall, on opening your eyes the middle of the screen should be in the middle of your field of vision. If your eyes have to look down sooner or later your head will follow, then your neck, shoulders and mid-back and all the muscular aches and pains that come with being slumped over.
Never work on a laptop without using a proper docking station that will set the screen at the right height.
Try to become proficient at using the mouse with both hands.
Most importantly, take regular breaks. NO matter how good your set up is, there is no substitute for walking away and moving your body to keep you healthy.

To enjoy optimum health, keep your body moving and your mind active.

Simple rules to live by, to enjoy a long and healthy life!! So Keep on Moving!!

Original article

Does Every Computer Session End in Neck, Shoulders or Lower Back Pain? Try Supporting Your Forearms!

Do you ever suffer from lower back pain or shoulder girdle pain while or after working on a computer? Chances are, those pains are caused by a lack of support for your forearms.

What is the best position for the forearms when working on a computer?

Ergonomics experts differ regarding this issue and their approaches fall into several categories - Floating, using your table or the chair arm-rest as support, or using a special padded forearm support. This article presents those various approaches, discussing their advantages and disadvantages in an objective way, so as to let you decide which approach is most suitable for you.

Floating - The Pianist Approach

This approach consists in letting the palms of the hands hover over the keyboard. Specialists favoring this approach argue that shoulders should be relaxed and simulate the movements of piano playing, leaving the joints free of load. But this demands a keyboard situated very low and keeping a constant high awareness to your posture.

The table Support

Using the table itself to support your forearms might be the most common way. This method is self explanatory, easy, gives a full support to the shoulder girdles, and naturally creates a neutral posture of the palms. On the down side, the table's sharp edge or hard surface edge can cause discomfort and sometime result in an inflammation in the elbow area. In addition, this solution is impossible to implement on narrow tables, and with tables lacking an ergonomic niche, laying the forearms on the table forces the user to extend his or her forearms further, which creates a certain load on the shoulder girdles.

Chair Armrest Support

Instead of using the table, you can rest your forearms on the chair's own armrest. This insures a correct anatomical posture of the shoulders, and is suitable also for straight edged narrow tables, which lack depth. But this method cannot be implemented when the armrests are too narrow, not adjustable and not padded.

The Padded Ergonomic Armrest Board

In this method, the forearms are laid on a special padded surface connected to the table, with an ergonomic niche. The ergonomic pad affords full support to the forearm and it's comfortable, as it neutralizes any pressure points. It creates a correct sitting posture, and leads to a relaxed and optimal posture of the shoulders. Correctly built ergonomic armrest boards enable every user to find the typing position most suitable for his or her body shape and shoulders width, so they are suitable for all users, regardless of their height, or weight (yes, even during pregnancy, when back pains can be a real issue). The ergonomic armrest board enables users to upgrade non-ergonomic environments, as it can be easily attached or transferred to another table.

Let's summarize:

Floating, resting your forearms on the table or on the chair's armrest or using an ergonomic board - deciding what is best for your depends on your physical characteristics, as well as on the work surface at your disposal, the type of work you do and the ergonomic accessories you already have in your work environment. Whichever method you choose, we advise you to consider carefully what is appropriate and remind you that prevention is always better than treatment! So make sure you do whatever you can to prevent those pains in your shoulders or lower back!

Dalit is a renowned ergonomics consultant who serves Fortune 500 companies as well as smaller corporations and organizations.
Having experienced the world of ergonomics first-hand, she designed the ergocloud - an innovative ergonomic arm rest.
Go to http://www.ergocloud.com/, to see how the ergocould and additional ergonomic products can help you prevent pain and discomfort at your workplace.

Original article

The Best Computer Chair for Your Back

Working while sitting in front of the computer might not be as tiring as doing manual labor such as in a construction site. But the possibility of developing back problems is imminent. These back problems are generally characterized by back pains.

To reduce or totally prevent the occurrence of these back problems, there are few important tips that you need to keep in mind when you are going to purchase a computer chair.

Your computer chair needs to have:

Height adjustable back. Since you need to take care of your back, a good back support is necessary. This can be achieved when the chair has the right height. You can either buy a chair that fits you perfectly or you can get one that has adjustable features.

A chair that has an adjustable back allows you to change the height of the back rest according to your personal preferences. Also, the chair has to be at least 12 inches wide and be able to support the contour of your back. This means that a comfortable chair is one that fits your back and follows its curves.

Air lumbar pump. An important inward curve in the back is the part that corresponds to the lumbar spine. The height and depth of the chair can be adjusted based on the specific contour of your back.

The air lumbar pump is the part that allows the person to control the depth of the chair that hits the lumbar spine. Lower back aches can be easily prevented when you are able to change the configurations of the chair from time to time depending on your tasks.

Armrest adjustment. To better add comfort to the neck, shoulders, and arms, a good armrest is required.

This arm rest should be adjustable in terms of position and height. You should be able to move it a few inches until you reach your most comfortable position.

Back rest adjuster. This will allow you to adjust the height and at the same time the angle of the back rest of the chair. Different angles may be utilized depending on what you are doing when you are sitting on the chair.

When you want to change the position of your back, you likewise should be able to find a position that your chair can assume. When you are now comfortable, you can surely avoid certain back problems.

Seat height adjuster. Aside from changing the height of the back of the chair, a good computer chair should also allow you to change the whole structure's height. This will reduce the strain not only on your back, but also on your arms and your neck.

It should be able to allow you to adjust the height by at least a few inches taller or a few inches shorter.

Swivel. When your chair swivels, you can easily reach areas around your desk without having to strain your back and your neck.

Marion Mccants enjoys writing about reclining massage chair and back massager chair as well as related products.

Original article