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Posted by u/varrock 6 years ago
Ask HN: What have you done to improve your desk ergonomics?
I've been having elbow pain recently and decided to do an audit of my desk ergonomics. It turns out, my desk was too high to enforce proper typing technique. I've been looking into some split keyboards, as well as vertical mouses.

What have you guys done as professionals that sit at a desk most of the day to improve your ergonomics?

brenden2 · 6 years ago
I like having a large, flat surface, without a bunch of clutter on the desk. It's important to make sure the desk and chair fit well together, such that your elbows and arms can rest on the table without stress. I use the Apple Magic keyboard and trackpad which lay flat on the desk, making it easy to get a comfortable position with minimal stress. Having limited clutter means I can easily move the mouse/keyboard around, switch between sitting and standing positions, and stay in a comfortable position. Additionally, I use an adjustable arm for my iMac which does not occupy desk space.

My standing desk: https://www.fully.com/jarvis-adjustable-height-desk-bamboo.h...

My adjustable chair: https://www.hermanmiller.com/products/seating/office-chairs/...

My adjustable monitor arm: https://www.fully.com/accessories/monitor-arms/esi-edge-max....

anishjoni · 6 years ago
Do you feel the chair does justice to the price? How is your experience so far?
brenden2 · 6 years ago
It's good, but if you can find something that fits you well for less money I'd go for that instead. If you buy Herman Miller furniture you're definitely paying a premium for the brand.

A popular alternative are the Steelcase chairs, which are less expensive and (supposedly) comparable quality.

justboxing · 6 years ago
> Do you feel the chair does justice to the price?

Was thinking the same thing. Also what about the $300+ Monitor Arm. First time seeing someone pay an arm and length for an arm.

otras · 6 years ago
I’ve found success with the following:

- Proper desk height for standing and sitting to ensure arms are at 90* angle.

- Extended height monitor arms to ensure screens are up at eye level. This has been great for my posture.

- Split keyboard (kinesis) to ensure my shoulders are in a neutral, not rolled inwards position and my wrist angle is also neutral. I broke my collarbone when younger, and it’s very easy for me to not keep my shoulders neutral.

- Extended palm pad for keyboard to keep my wrists neutral. With larger hands my palms are pretty far from the keyboard, which makes it easy to have my wrists lower than my hands. I have the V3 attachment to the kinesis keyboard.

- Regular exercise and strength training.

- Avoiding working on my laptop as much as possible. The angle and ergonomics are just not nearly as good as my desktop setup.

tracer4201 · 6 years ago
+1 on regular exercise and strength training. I think of my desk ergonomics as one part of the larger story on my general health. Exercise - both cardio and weight training or some resistance is crucial, as is healthy eating.

I’m kind of going off topic, but one other thing I’ve also done is reduce my coffee intake and replace coffee with plain water. It’s certainly helped my ability to think on my feet and avoid “brain fog” where I’m trying to think of a concept, a name, or just quickly answer or recommend something on my feet.

Jormundir · 6 years ago
I went down this road towards the beginning of my career. I tried split keyboards, ergo mice, keyboard tray, new chair, etc. There are a couple things that matter in ergonomics, mainly that your chair is at a height where you can set your feet flat on the floor comfortably, and that your forearms are the same height as the desk.

All the products made around ergonomics are total BS, full stop. Your body is not built to sit at a desk all day, and you can't fix that with an overpriced keyboard. Take breaks from time to time and go walk around a bit.

Get yourself setup so there's no pressure on your arms and legs and call it good. Don't waste your money on ergo BS.

muzani · 6 years ago
I wouldn't call it total BS. Ergo doesn't make you comfortable. Ergo reduces discomfort. There are tools that are very uncomfortable and tools that are only slightly uncomfortable. They're not too expensive either; MS Ergo 4000 keyboard is getting lots of recommendations here for a reason.
dasKrokodil · 6 years ago
> Your body is not built to sit at a desk all day > Take breaks from time to time and go walk around a bit.

I agree with the quoted parts, but disagree with the rest. In the time you do spend typing, an ergonomic keyboard (one of the few that actually deserves that title) can be beneficial. It sure is for me.

SeriousM · 6 years ago
True. A mouse ND keyboard you like, the screen about a armlength away, a chair that doesn't hurt you and that's it.
splittingTimes · 6 years ago
3M ergonomic mouse, Microsoft natural keyboard, monitor sits on a separate, lower desk behind my main work desk. I can sit up straight with my neck long and stretched and look down on the screen.

In 2008 I had very severe carpal tunnel syndrome for over a year. Then I found a clinic that had specialized in pain patients. They found out that the muscles my neck where shortened and weak. Neck is connected to shoulder is connected to arm is connect to wrists leading to my symptoms. Got a lot of exercises to lengthen and strengthen my neck. That fixed the wrist pains. Whenever they rise again I start do these exercises and it goes away.

My current construction site are the muscles that connect the legs to your hips/lower abdomen. They shorten too, due to the constant sitting position plus going by bike to work. This leads to back pains/slipped disks. Need to lengthen them as well.

lostdog · 6 years ago
Would you share what neck exercises worked for you?
splittingTimes · 6 years ago
Pain symptom and cause have a non-local connection. A co-worker of mine was there too, same symptoms, but he had disfunctional pectoral muscles. So his exercises where different.

My exercises are hard to describe in words. I spend a week in physiotherapy at that clinic with 3 sessions a 1.5h a day, where they show you the exercises and correct your position.

I'll try to find videos for you.

acdha · 6 years ago
I switched to a desktop so my keyboard and screen are independently adjustable. Beyond that, I’m pretty close to Jormundir: no matter what you do, if it’s still being sedentary it’ll catch up with you - bodies didn’t evolve sitting in the exact same position for hours at a stretch. Taking breaks is important even if it just means you get coffee in smaller serving sizes.
gabcoh · 6 years ago
Speaking to your first point I am using my laptop at my desk and portably. At my desk I use an aluminum stand that raises the computer off of the table and into a more comfortable viewing position and I connect a portable mouse and keyboard. It is totally possible to comfortably use a laptop at your desk.
acdha · 6 years ago
Definitely true: the key point is not having the screen be a fixed position from the keyboard however you accomplish that.
cweagans · 6 years ago
Standing desk is a must, IMO. Also, something that will remind you to switch from sitting to standing and/or vice versa. For me, switching more regularly is more beneficial than just standing or just sitting all the time.

I also started using an Ergodox at my desk and that's helped a lot. Wrist pronation was really killing me, and now that's just not a problem anymore. I liked that so much that I got a second one for travel.

Also, make sure that your monitors are elevated to the right height so that you're not looking down. It'll help a lot with any neck pain you might be experiencing.

michaelrpeskin · 6 years ago
At a previous job, I had a great setup: I had a drafting table but I set it up where the front was higher than the back - not dramatic, maybe only a couple of inches. That way my elbows could be on the desk but they weren’t forced at 90 degrees or pitch my wrists up. Basically my arms were slightly open more than 90 degrees and my wrists were always relaxed. I loved it. My new place just has a regular sit-stand desk and it’s been bothering me. I’m thinking of asking for a drafting table. I’ve never found a more comfortable arrangement. When I need to sit and think, I use a stool rather than lower the table. It works for me since I come from chemistry and we always had stools at the lab benches, so it just feels natural for me.
tboyd47 · 6 years ago
So you realized that your typing surface is too high. You have 2 options:

1. Lower your typing surface.

2. Raise your seat.

#1 can be handled with a clamp-on keyboard tray (get one with negative tilt), and for #2, try a drafting stool (don't buy until you sit on it yourself).

I had the same problem. For my office, I have both the tray and the stool, and for my home office, I just have a normal chair + a rolling adjustable desk surface that goes low enough to be used as a typing surface.

I also use a split keyboard (Kinesis makes great ones) and I'm in the market for a vertical mouse right now.

Don't listen to the people who say ergonomics is all bullshit and you just need to stand up (or exercise or whatever). Your equipment makes a difference.