You might get a little frustrated at work when you bump your legs into your desk, feel a muscle pull when you reach for a file or bang your head into your computer keyboard looking for a pile of papers under your workstation. But some experts have devoted their own work life to studying these annoyances, and trying to eliminate them by designing ergonomic office chairs, desks and office equipment. Ergonomic office design is geared toward keeping your body comfortable and injury-free while you conduct your work. The first step in creating an ergonomic office is indentifying what needs to be changed based on your symptoms. Here are some examples:
  • If you have chronic back and shoulder pain or numbness in your legs, investigate a new office chair
  • If you feel routinely stressed, irritable or have trouble concentrating, it may be the ambient noise from traffic or the rest of the work place
  • If you have severe eye strain or allergies that act up only at work, check into a different computer screen
  • If you have poor circulation or muscle tone, a variety of items in your office may need to be replaced
  • If you feel sleepy all the time, your office may be the wrong temperature
  • If you have consistent neck pain, it's likely the type of telephone you use or the placement of it at your workstation.
Keep in mind that an ergonomic chair and an ergonomic desk must work hand in hand. You may find the perfect chair online or at an office supply store but it may not be designed to work in concert with the ergonomic desk you choose elsewhere.