Desk posture is somewhat of a misunderstood term. You do not often hear it used but when you do, typically it refers to posture while sitting and working at a desk, or basically sitting posture. Because problems associated with poor posture are so prevalent in today's society, proper ergonomic workstations and postures are imperative!
Dr. J. Donald Miller, recently retired Director of NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), is quoted as saying, "that by any epidemiological criteria, occupational musculoskeletal injures represent a pandemic problem in the United States with gigantic effects on the quality of millions of peoples' lives every year."
Chairs For Desks
Ergonomic disorders including Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, various tendon disorders and lower back injuries, are the most rapidly growing category of OSHA (Occupation Safety and Health Administration) recordable injuries and illnesses and cost over an estimated 0 billion annually.
So what is good desk posture? The following checklist identifies the proper way to sit in order to achieve good desk posture:
• Feet flat on the floor
• Knees directly over feet, bent at right angles (or slightly greater), with a couple inches of space from the chair
• Pelvis rocked forward, with hips positioned no lower than, and perhaps slightly higher than the knees.
• Lower back arched in, and supported by your chair or a towel roll. Upper back naturally rounded
• Shoulders and arms relaxed at side. Keep a neutral position, where the forearms, wrists and hands are in a straight line.
• Neck arched in, relaxed, supported by spine. Be careful not to hold tension in back or under chin.
• Head balancing gently on top of spine.
• Avoid resting elbows, forearms or wrists on hard surfaces or sharp edges.
• When keyboarding, use minimum force while striking the keys.
• Avoid awkward reaching for work tools such as telephone, mouse and reference materials.
There can be exceptions. For example, it is alright to shift your legs and feet around if they get stiff, but be sure to always keep the spine neutral and the head balanced above the pelvis. This good posture when you are seated will minimize the effort required to work at your computer thus reducing your risk of injury.