Get All Access for $5/mo

What A Pain!

Ergonomics 101

Did you know your office can be hazardous to your health? Whilesitting at adesk staring at a computer for eight hours straight maynot be as dangerous as,say, cleaning up toxic waste, poorlydesigned office space can still leave youhurting at the end of theday. And, in addition to the pain, computer-relatedinjuries canseriously decrease your productivity at a critical time inthedevelopment of your business. We asked Chris Grant, whose F-1Ergonomics in AnnArbor, Michigan, provides ergonomics consulting tobusinesses, about the fourmost common office-related injuries,their causes and what you can do toprevent them.

Eye, eye: Eyestrain symptoms include burning, tightness,sharp pains,watering, blurring, headaches and even double vision.There are many causes,including the flickering of old or dying CRT(cathode-ray tube) monitors andolder, single-tube fluorescentlights, as well as the reflected glare fromcomputer screens. Butmost eyestrain comes from focusing closely on CRT screensor printedmaterials for long periods of time. To give your eyes a rest,Grantsuggests following the "20/20 rule"--every 20minutes, look 20 feet away for 20seconds.

Pain in the neck: "The muscles in your upper backand neck can handlelooking down for long periods of time, buteventually, your muscles have towork harder and harder to hold yourhead up," Grant says. "[At some point,]just lookingstraight ahead from a seated position can cause neck pain."Ifyou're having neck pain, try lowering your monitor; youshould be lookingslightly downward.

Talk back: Contrary to what ergonomic chair makers say,Grant contends,it's not where you sit but for how long thatcauses back pain. "Sitting putsyour hips at a right angle,which can stretch muscles and ligaments in theback." Accordingto Grant, preventing back pain doesn't require a fancyexerciseregimen. Simply get up and move around frequently. One tip: Putyourphone across the room so you'll have to get up to answerit.

Wristy business: Painful, tingling, numb or cold handscould be warningsigns of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which occurswhen swollen tissue in thewrist pinches nerves. In an officesetting, CTS is usually caused by too muchtyping, mousing orhandwriting without a break, but Grant warns nerves can alsobecomeinflamed by habitually resting your wrist on something hardorsharp--even the edge of a foam mouse pad. The key to CTSprevention isawareness: Take frequent breaks, and consult with ahealth professional if youshow any CTS symptoms, Grant advises.Ergonomic mice and keyboards thatencourage natural typing andclicking positions can also help.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Culture

Stop Blaming Remote Work for Your Productivity Woes — 5 Signs of a Productive Office Culture

It doesn't matter if you work from a cubicle, couch or cafe — if the (remote) office culture is broken, productivity will suffer.

Business News

These Companies Offer the Best Work-Life Balance, According to Employees

The ranking is based on Glassdoor ratings and reviews.

Starting a Business

Nearly 50% of America's Workforce Has a Secondary Source of Income or Side Hustle. Here Are 7 Steps You Should Take to Create Lasting Value for Yours.

Today's entrepreneurs have the opportunity to generate long-lasting supplementary income if they take these steps.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.