Gone are the days when individuals had to get the work done, regardless of how inconvenient or uncomfortable it was for them. Today, individuals are more conscious about their health, well-being, and comfort, and employers have little choice regarding ensuring all of this for their employees.
Ensuring good ergonomics around you is critically important. Ergonomics is the science of designing environments where the comfort needs of all individuals involved are assured. Most people think that ergonomics is only important in workplaces where employees have to sit in one place in the same posture for long hours. But that's not true. Everyone in different settings is at an equal risk of developing consequences of poor ergonomics. Ergonomics is an essential factor everywhere today, be it in schools, homes, or workplaces. Good ergonomics can literally be a game-changer.
If you're concerned that you may be at risk of developing any health consequences due to poor ergonomics and wish to ensure your health and well-being, this blog post is just what you need to read.
This blog post lists some of the best ergonomic equipment options worth your attention and money! But before that, let's first see how investing in improving ergonomics can benefit you.
Benefits of Improving Ergonomics Around You
Better ergonomics means better health. Ergonomics can benefit you in more ways than you know. Let's look at the many benefits of good ergonomics.
Reduces the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders
One of the most prominent benefits of good ergonomics is the reduced risk of musculoskeletal disorders. A poor ergonomic environment means you're most likely not practicing the correct posture. Incorrect posture, especially an incorrect sitting posture, can strain your back, neck, and shoulders and put you at a high risk of musculoskeletal disorders. However, a good ergonomic environment encourages individuals to practice correct posture, thereby reducing the strain on the body and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Enhances Productivity
Good ergonomics enhance productivity. As you know by now, good ergonomic conditions promote good posture, which reduces exertion and enhances comfort. When you're more comfortable, you'll be less distracted and more focused on what you've got in front of you. With better focus comes enhanced productivity and higher efficiency. You're less likely to make errors when you're more focused on your work.
Improves Mood and Morale
Working in uncomfortable conditions affects your productivity and efficiency and also lowers your mood and morale. You're constantly distracted and can't really put your heart into work. You don't feel like working. You stay stressed and anxious most of the time. Uncomfortable working conditions also make you irritable and edgy. But when your working conditions are comfortable, and you're able to work in comfort without any distractions, you enjoy working, which eventually boosts your mood and morale.
The Ergonomic Equipment You Should Invest in Today
You can't deny the benefits of good ergonomics. Now that you know how good ergonomics benefit you let's move on to the more important part of the discussion; which ergonomic equipment can actually benefit you and is worth your money?
We've listed some of the best ergonomic equipment varieties that you won't regret spending money on!
Ergonomic Chair
The best ergonomic investment that you should make right away is the ergonomic chair. The chair is an essential piece of furniture that every individual uses to sit at work all day. If the chair isn't comfortable, the user will be constantly distracted, resulting in poor work productivity. This is where an ergonomic chair comes into the frame.
An ergonomic chair isn't like a regular office chair. It has unique features that ensure the user is sitting in the correct posture and is comfortable. You can adjust the height of an ergonomic chair to ensure your feet are placed parallel to the floor and not dangling in the air. You can also adjust the depth and width of the seat to ensure you're seated with your back comfortably supported by the backrest and the edge of the seat about 2 to 4 inches from the knees so that the edge of the seat isn't pushing into the back of the knees. The ergonomic chair also has a breathable and flexible backrest to provide superior back support. Some ergonomic chairs also have armrests and headrests. You should invest in an ergonomic chair that suits your needs best to benefit from it the most.
Ergonomic Desk
Another ergonomic investment worth making is the ergonomic desk. One of the biggest reasons for bad posture is the incorrect height of the desk. If the desk is too high, the user has to sit with their back stretched and shoulders stiff to reach the desk's surface. If the desk is too low, the user has to sit with their back curved, and their head bent forward. Both postures strain the back, neck, and shoulders.
An ergonomic desk encourages the user to sit in the correct posture. The user can adjust the desk's height per their preferences so that the desk isn't too high or too low for them. Sit-stand workstations like the Vici Duplex Standing Desk are also good options. They allow you to alternate between sitting and standing so that you aren't sitting or standing for too long.
Adjustable Monitor Mount
Another valuable ergonomic investment is an adjustable monitor mount. An adjustable monitor mount can be a savior for office workers, gamers, and even students who use the computer frequently. According to ergonomic standards, your computer monitor should be at eye level right in front of you at about an arm's length distance so that you don't have to bend or tilt your head or strain your eyes. An adjustable monitor mount, as you can tell by the name, is a mount for computer screens that can be adjusted. The user can adjust the height, distance, and angle of the computer monitor positioned just right. You may not realize it now, but sitting with your head tilted or neck bent or raised for several hours straight can strain your neck and shoulders and put you at an immense risk of developing posture-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Anti-Glare Screen
If you correct your sitting posture by investing in an ergonomic chair and ergonomic desk but don't do anything about the glare from the computer screen, you can't consider yourself fully safe. You may have corrected your posture, but posture isn't what ergonomics is all about. Ergonomics also encompasses glare. The glare from the computer screen can strain your eyes, especially if you sit in front of the screen for several hours at a stretch regularly. The strain can result in headaches and vision problems.
Investing in an anti-glare protective screen for your computer monitor can prove to be very helpful. This screen is a protective shield against bright white light and brightness fluctuations to ensure that your eyes aren't strained.
Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse
If you've got to use the computer for prolonged hours every day for work or are an avid gamer, using a regular keyboard and mouse can increase the risk of developing repetitive strain injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Using a regular keyboard and mouse strains the fingers and wrists, making typing and gripping things very painful.
If your fingers and wrists have started to hurt, you should consider investing in an ergonomic keyboard and mouse. An ergonomic keyboard isn't like a regular keyboard. It features a unique design in which the keys are arranged to encourage the user to place their hands and fingers on the keyboard in a neutral posture to minimize strain. The keyboard also has a padded wrist support to reduce wrist strain. The keys are softer, so you don't have to press them too hard.
As for the ergonomic mouse, it comes in various designs to facilitate different types of grip styles. The buttons are also more sensitive and softer so that the user's fingers don't get strained by pressing the buttons too hard and too frequently.
Under-Desk Treadmill
If you're fitness conscious, but your job has kept you super occupied, you don't need to worry. You can invest in an ergonomic under-desk treadmill that allows you to incorporate a workout into your routine and stay fit and healthy without compromising on your work. Investing in an under-desk treadmill sure will be an excellent investment in your case.
Closing Word
You'll be amazed to see the variety of ergonomic products that are available today. Ensuring good ergonomics isn't difficult. You just need to identify the risk factors. You need to invest in the right ergonomic office equipment if you're an office worker. If you're a student, an ergonomic study desk and chair are what you need. If you're an architect who spends a lot of time standing, a standing desk will be a valuable investment in your case. You just need to evaluate your needs and invest in ergonomic products accordingly.
