Writing desk ergonomics addresses the position of your desk, chair and body to maximize productivity, minimize physical discomfort and prevent health-related issues. Although basic ergonomic principles can apply to everyone using a writing desk, some aspects require individual tweaking to accommodate your specific height and work tasks. When you use a writing desk for reading and writing as well as for computer or laptop work, implement the ergonomic recommendations that apply to your workplace.
Sitting Too Low
When you're sitting too low at a writing desk, it forces you to sit on the front edge of a chair to lift your arms to a comfortable working level. You must reach upward to grasp objects on top of your desk as well as raise arms, hands and wrists when you're typing. Information from the Michigan State University's physician's office states that reaching upward to a desktop when you're in a low chair can cause wear and tear as well as thickening of the bursa and tendons of the shoulder, which can lead to tendinitis and bursitis of the shoulder.
Sitting Too High
If your chair is too high for your desk,you have to bend forward to reach down to the low desktop. According to the Michigan State University's physician's office, this unnatural posture results in undue back stress as well as abnormal positions for your wrists. Because leaning forward causes the lower back to support the upper body weight, which is up to 50 percent of your total body weight, it also makes the back muscles more prone to injury and fatigue.
The American National Standards Institute has developed recommended guidelines for ergonomically based workstations such as writing desks. It suggests a writing-desk height between 27 and 29 inches, leaving ample room under the desk for legs and knees. Proper ergonomic sitting position at a writing desk is a 90-degree angle between your lower and upper arms; your hips and lower back; your upper and lower legs; and your feet and ankles. Modify the work-surface height for a keyboard to about 2 inches lower than your desk height. Adjust your chair or desk to accommodate the recommended ergonomic height for your stature.
Even though a proper desk and chair height are crucial components of office ergonomics, you can implement additional ergonomic ideas to improve your comfort level. For example, place a task lamp on your desk for reading and writing; choose a writing desk with rounded edges to avoid uncomfortable forearm stress; and keep your wrists in line with your forearms and palms when typing. In addition, situate the top of a computer or laptop screen at eye level and at a comfortable distance that allows you to read the monitor without leaning your neck, head or trunk backward or forward.
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