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The Ergonomic Office

By: Graham Baylis Click author's name for more of his/her articles

When designing the ergonomic office, one has to consider many factors including how much ergonomic equipment and furniture you will require, how many employees you are catering for and what their individual needs are. If you are going the whole hog and having your entire office ergonomically fitted and equipped, there is just about everything you need that has been designed with you in mind, from desks and chairs to mice and keyboards.

Ergonomic chairs should be designed so that the person's spine has proper support and that the user can adjust the chair to the correct height for use at their desk. The chair should be adjustable in several areas including the back and the seat, and, some will even allow you to adjust the tension in the lumbar support area. When choosing a chair, make sure that it has adjustable arm rests, the height can be adjusted, a big enough and well padded seat, a good back rest, firm lumbar support and that it can swivel easily. Your feet should be squarely on the floor or on a proper foot rest. The chair should also be covered in a breathable fabric with enough padding underneath as this will help prevent pressure points forming.

There are many desks to choose from. Your own personal needs should be foremost in your choice as you know what equipment needs to be on the desk. It needs to be the correct height and depth for you to work from and should be chosen in conjunction with your chair. If necessary, your screen can be raised to the correct height with the use of specially made stands for your desk.

A variety of keyboards and mice are available and unless you know what you want, choosing the right keyboard can be a bit of a minefield because if it isn't right for you, it will be no use and therefore a waste of money. First and foremost, the keyboard or mouse should be comfortable in your hands and you should be able to type and use the mouse without strain or discomfort.

The whole point of the ergonomic office is to promote well being, good posture, protect the spine and help prevent conditions such as RSI and back pain. It is therefore vital that you do proper research and try things out before you buy them. Make sure that everything is at the correct level for you to use and that you are not stretching, straining or slouching in your chair. Almost as important is taking a break from time to time and doing some stretching and flexing so that the muscles don't get stiff and tight. After all, there is no point in investing all that money in good furniture and equipment if you are not going to use it properly and take the necessary breaks.

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About The Author: Working from home is becoming more and more common these days and thus having a perfect home office is something that many want. Conquest Furniture has been supplying bespoke home office furniture for many years now and offers some insights as to why home offices have become so popular. www.conquest-uk.com