Preventative Tips for working in the office

Source: TheHelpingHand.Com

• Rest your hands frequently, especially when any tingling, numbness, pain, cramping, etc. occurs.
• Try and control your mouse with the lightest possible grip.
• Rest your palms, not your wrist, on a wrist-rest or the desktop.
• When using a keyboard/mouse, your hands should be even or slightly lower than your elbows. An adjustable keyboard tray mounted under the desktop may be necessary.
• Keep your hands in-line with your forearms as much as possible, not bent in/out or up/down at the wrist.
• Rest your elbows on your chair's armrests and adjust them so the weight of your arms is supported by the armrests, not supported by your shoulders.
• Use a foot rest if your feet aren't flat on the floor.
• The top of your monitor should be about eye level so you aren't bending your neck up or too far down.
• Sit upright so your head is above your shoulders. Don't slouch forward.
• Take frequent breaks and do stretching exercises to replenish blood flow which is restricted by continuous muscle use, especially involving your hands.
• Alter your posture from time to time but keep within the guidelines of correct sitting most of the time.
• Sit so the natural hollow stays in your lower back. A good adjustable chair should allow this.
• Position your monitor and keyboard in front of you, not to the side.
• Use larger barreled pens (1/2"+ diameter) to make them easier to grasp.
• Don't wear wrist splints for extended periods during the day. Some muscles may atrophy.
• Don't type with long fingernails.
• Cut back or discontinue the use of tobacco products.