Are you ergonomically correct?

Have you ever had mysterious pains even though you haven't suffered any obvious injuries? You may be suffering from symptoms associated with repetitive motions or prolonged sitting while writing and using the computer. Some of the possible diagnoses plaguing students are neck and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. \nAdjustable workstations and computer chairs with lumbar support not only provide comfort, they help maintain the natural curves in your spine so that each vertebra bears equal weight. When you sit with your feet on the floor, you have a solid base of support against the force of gravity. Slumping, leaning forward from your seat back and sitting with your feet tucked under you in the chair for long periods increase the stress on the joints and the discs between the vertebrae of your spine.\nThere are ways to support a balanced posture without an expensive, adjustable chair or work surface. For lumbar support, try a towel roll or small pillow propped between the small of your back and the seatback. If your chair is too low, set a firm pillow on the seat of your chair. If your feet don't reach the floor, prop them up on a book. If the top of your screen is not at eyelevel, prop the monitor up on a book. If you have a laptop, angle the screen more upward. If you are unable to slide your chair close enough to the desk, place the keyboard on a pillow on your lap. You can use a piece of cardboard on the pillow to keep your mouse at the same level as the keyboard.\nUse document holders and book stands to angle your work up off the desktop, closer to eye level. Arrange frequently used items close to you on the desktop. Slow your pace with keying, keep your wrists straight and only use the wrist rest during pauses from keying. Move your monitor an arm's length away and make sure your light source is off to one side of the monitor to cut down on excessive glare. Set a timer to remind yourself to take breaks every 45 minutes or to stretch, relax your eyes and provide time for your body to recover from fatigue.\nIt may be hard to believe that you can suffer painful and even disabling injuries just sitting at your desk. Just as you might choose to workout to prevent cardiovascular disease, you should seriously consider these simple procedures to prevent the very real threats of carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, neck and back strain that could threaten your well-being for years to come.