Working on a computer comfortably?

[CodeRedR51]

Anyone here work on a computer all day?

Any tips for keeping your arm/wrist comfortable so that it doesn't feel like it wants to fall off? I have one of the memory foam mouse pads, but it doesn't seem to be helping much. That and my boney elbow is taking a beating from sitting on the desk all day.

👍

 

[nick09]

Personally if you keep the weight of your elbows supported you should not have any problems with pain in your wrist.

 

[Casio]

Decent chair.

 

[Korza]

At least your computer table doesn't try to turn you into an Emo every time you use the mouse like mine.

 

[Seismica]

The mouse should not be near the edge to the table as this will put unnecessary strain on your wrist, the mouse needs to be maybe at least a 6 inch/15 cm rulers length away from the edge of the table, so your forearms are resting on it and distributing the weight evenly, but your elbows are off the edge. I've used one of those silicone wrist rests before and they actually put more strain on my wrist, but others may find them more comfortable. Then again, my arms are not by any means skinny, so they probably provide quite a bit of support

The chair needs to be at a comfortable height in relation the the table. Well, everything needs to be right ergonomically, the chair, monitor and desk all need to be in the correct position in relation to eachother. The mouse should more or less be in line with the keyboard, the monitor should be parallel to the keyboard and the desk to, so you aren't twisting your back.

I'm no expert and I don't 'work' at a desk all day, but I do sit at my desk pretty much 100% of the time when i'm not at uni, out with friends or sleeping, so i'm just basing what I say off what I have infront of me. The only strain I get is the ear clamps I have (Sennheiser headset).

 

[CodeRedR51]

My situation is a bit different as I sit at a corner desk. Maybe I'll change it up.

 

[Seismica]

My situation is a bit different as I sit at a corner desk. Maybe I'll change it up.

I think that may be where the problem is I'm guessing if you were facing the corner of the desk (With the keyboard and monitor in-line), that either your elbows would not have freedom to move or your chair would not go close enough in due to armrests being in the way. If the latter is the case you would be leant forwards or your arms would be stretched out slightly, causing stress/strain in one place or another. Or maybe you are square on to the desk as I described, but with the monitor at an angle to the keyboard, which can cause problems too.

A setup like this should be fine (Except for the chair, armrests are too high, need one with adjustable or removable rests):

Whereas a setup like the one below would probably cause you a lot of discomfort. Having the monitor at a different angle to where where you are sat, having the keyboard and mouse at different heights and having to stretch one arm out for the mouse is not good, they should ideally be in line so as to not place any stress on your arms, neck or back.

I'm not really a fan of those keyboard drawers either, they were only necessarily with CRT monitors on small desks. I'm not saying you should get a new desk (If a corner one fits in your room nicely, there is no reason why you shouldn't keep it) just try and arrange everything where it is in line and give your forearms somewhere to rest, but make sure your elbows are free to move a little otherwise this can cause stress in your shoulders/neck and in your forearms.

I've had a desk before that didn't have the depth to accomodate everything, so my old CRT monitor had to go to the side of the keyboard. It was a nightmare ergonomically, putting stress on me whichever way I was sat.

 

[Azuremen]

Decent chair.

This will make a huge difference.

A nicely shaped mouse, along with a comfortable angle on the keyboard will help a lot as well.

I went through a few different mice before I settled on what I am using right now (Mionox Naos 5000), and I just have a large mouse pad, without the padding. I found the padding just annoyed me when I was gaming, so I just have a 14 inch by 14 inch mouse surface so I don't bang my wrist and base of my hand against the desk. I also use a high sensitivity so I don't have to lift my hand much when I mouse.

 

[Seismica]

This will make a huge difference.

A nicely shaped mouse, along with a comfortable angle on the keyboard will help a lot as well.

I went through a few different mice before I settled on what I am using right now (Mionox Naos 5000), and I just have a large mouse pad, without the padding. I found the padding just annoyed me when I was gaming, so I just have a 14 inch by 14 inch mouse surface so I don't bang my wrist and base of my hand against the desk. I also use a high sensitivity so I don't have to lift my hand much when I mouse.

Mouse sensitivity is something I didn't think of, and that is a good point. I have mine on the highest sensitivity at all times (3200dpi if I remember rightly) and I barely have to move my wrist.

Now I think about it, some sort of keyboard support may be useful so that your wrists aren't simply hovering above. It's with the mouse that the wrist supports just get in the way.

 

[Submerged]

Doesn't the RSI risk increases if you have to do repeated small movements so having the mouse on such a high sensitivity and doing minute adjustments may not actually be what you would want?

 

[Bigbazz]

I had RSI problems a few years ago (i'm a guitarist too, so it doesnt help) and had to see an osteopath to fix the problem, which worked wonders. Since then I've always used a wrist support on my left hand and a mousepad with a wrist support build in, it has helped loads.

I often spend hours (easily 12hours at a time some days) at a computer with recording and mixing of music, so RSI is a serious risk and problem for me.

 

[bass264]

Using a overpriced leather chair for $100 does the job quite well.

 

[Casio]

Doesn't the RSI risk increases if you have to do repeated small movements so having the mouse on such a high sensitivity and doing minute adjustments may not actually be what you would want?

I think it depends how high. If you're making lots of small wrist adjustments you're probably correct.

I'm similar to Azure, I have my mouse cranked quite high (4000DPI, my GF has a lot of trouble with it), and I literally don't need to use my wrist at all, I basically completely move my mouse around underneath my hand using my thumb and pinky (I'm a claw gripper). I also have a large thickish cloth mouse-mat which my mouse uses about 1% of and my wrist/forearm rests on it.

I feel (at least to me) if you don't have your forearm on 'something' be it the desk or chair arm when using a computer, that's when a lot of wrists can start to hurt.

 

[Azuremen]

Doesn't the RSI risk increases if you have to do repeated small movements so having the mouse on such a high sensitivity and doing minute adjustments may not actually be what you would want?

RSI just has to do with repetitive movements, period. You can get RSI from being a window cleaner (which was a concern when I was a janitor), so if you drop the sensitivity, you'll just move the motion to your wrist or elbow.

Casio, I always found claw grip to lead to stress in my fingers, which I was I sold my G9x and replaced it with the match larger Naos. Had never bothers me now when I mouse for a long time.

Another consideration is keyboard layout. Now that is a late harder to adjust to, especially if you are a trained touch typist, but Colemak and Dvorak reduce finger travel quite a bit, and just feel better on fingers I find.

Colemak page

 

[Casio]

To be honest I don't know how people use the G9x unless they have midget hands.

I have Gorilla hands, and use a Gigabyte Ghost 8000x, a large mouse (similiar to the Naos 5000), but still too small for me to comfortably palm. I also have all the weights in so it's a 180g mouse, but I know for a lot of people this is too heavy and can use issues if they're not used to it, so can benefit from a lighter mouse.

 

[W3H5]

You're all doing it wrong. Screw wires and desks.

This is how to rock the office (home office admittedly) for ultimate comfort/ laziness.....

........I give you: the solution.

 

[shmogt]

Anyone here work on a computer all day?

Any tips for keeping your arm/wrist comfortable so that it doesn't feel like it wants to fall off? I have one of the memory foam mouse pads, but it doesn't seem to be helping much. That and my boney elbow is taking a beating from sitting on the desk all day.

👍

Omg I have been working on this problem for so many years now. My shoulders as many of peoples here are so out of place from bad chairs and posture. I like the many of you didn't even realize I had a huge muscle imbalance. I only found out because of bodybuilding where I couldn't do certain exercises and wouldn't move up in weight as quick as I should have. Takes years to correct all of it so number one invest in a quality chair. Make sure your lumbar and head are always supported. The arm rest should come up to your elbows when they are bent while seated to make sure no stress is on any joints. Sit up tall with back against the pad gently pushing your upper back and shoulders into it. Every 30min get up and do some stretches to keep blood flowing and stop muscles from tightening in the wrong places. I'll try to post some links later than show posture.