Healthy Home Office Ergonomics from Relax The Back

Home offices have become so prolific, it's time to start taking them more seriously. Taking the time to learn how to set up a "healthy" home office and investing in quality ergonomic equipment may save a fortune in medical bills down the road.

"Most people don't give one thought to the chair they are sitting in while they work, yet they will spend years of their lives molded to that piece of furniture," says Mark McLaughlin, MD, of Princeton Brain and Spine Care. "A well-balanced, ergonomic chair at work is one of the best preventative interventions one can do for their spine. It could prevent many episodes of back and neck pain flare-ups and, in some settings, even help prevent spine surgery."

April Vance, a licensed physical therapist and owner of two Relax The Back stores in Tennessee, states, "Poor resting posture and inadequate office chair design contribute heavily to the epidemic-like back ailments people face every day. A significant number of the back, neck, and shoulder problems that we see are the direct result of a home office that does not have the proper equipment."

"The kitchen table and chair is not a functional work space. It was designed for a 20 minute meal not seven hours of work." says Ms. Vance. "But, unfortunately, when it comes to planning a home office, that's the place people often start. They don't recognize the fact that they make their living sitting in that chair - and it's worth the investment to get one that works for them. Ergonomic research shows us that, with proper equipment, we work more efficiently so more tasks get done. Investing in the proper equipment is how you work smarter."

The Sit and Stand Desk by Relax The Back
Visit www.relaxtheback.com

People assume that if they work at a computer, they're going to experience some discomfort. "That's a myth," says Ronda Crenshaw, Director of Humanscale National Ergonomics Group. "You can be comfortable even if you are working at a computer for long periods of time. But understand that a product being labeled ergonomic, doesn't guarantee it will address your specific needs."

Your readers probably find themselves in the quandary of realizing their current home office set-up isn't working well for them, but not knowing how to fix it. The attached "checklist for a pain-free home office" is a great place to start. Plus, we can offer a number of qualified spokespeople as a resource for you in developing a story about ergonomics for the home office. They can provide hands-on, how-to information about:

• How to pick the right office chair for your needs - and how much you should anticipate investing in it. How to set it up so that the seat and arms are at the right height for the right, pain-free posture.

• How to set up your workspace: How high should your monitor sit? What can you do to avoid pressure points that long-term can lead to pain and ultimately nerve damage?

• Why well-positioned lighting is so important - and how poor lighting causes eye strain and headaches.