One size DOES NOT fit all

When you order clothes online, “one size fits all” can be a gamble. Humans come in such a wide variety of shapes; how can one thing fit all of us? Every now and then you’ll luck out, and the “one size” being offered is either your size, or is adjustable enough to somewhat fit you.

Just like in clothing, one size DOES NOT fit all when it comes to ergonomic equipment. This is why procuring ergonomic equipment – especially for other people – can be tricky. Furniture and equipment that doesn’t fit or function properly leads to risk factors, which leads to discomfort, which can eventually lead to injury. 

And that’s precisely why using the ergonomic guidelines that address each of those risk factors can help you when procuring furniture and equipment. 

Keep these 4 guidelines in mind: 

1. Keep it in neutral. Neutral posture is the least stressful posture for each joint. When we keep those joints as close to neutral as possible, we reduce the likelihood that awkward postures will occur. Awkward postures are a risk factor that occurs when one or more joints of the body are not in neutral posture.

How can you apply this guideline?

The more adjustability that a chair has, the more likely it is to fit a lot of people. Just like those “one size fits all” t-shirts: if they’re stretchy, then the range of people that it can fit increases. Think of chair adjustments as the “stretchy” part of this analogy, and the more the better; each adjustment knob or lever increases the chances of more people getting a good fit from the chair. 

There will always be outliers, but that’s where an alternative chair list comes into play. Your standard chair should have plenty of adjustability, so that it will fit a majority of your employees. 

2. Reduce contact stress. Did you know that – for about 90% of people – the standard desk height of 29.5” is too high? This is one of the most common places that we find a risk factor called “contact stress.” Contact stress occurs when something in the environment is compressing or rubbing against the body; in office ergonomics, this is often the desk surface or armrests. 

How can you apply this guideline?

Once again, adjustability is key. If all of your desks are static desks, installed at 29.5” from the floor, then you’re going to have a lot of uncomfortable people. And not just short people… tall people often have long arms, and so sometimes, their ideal desk height is going to be lower than 29.5”, too. Everyone is built differently, and everyone is going to have slightly different needs when it comes to desk height. 

This makes electric adjustable desks ideal. With an adjustable desk, the user can get the exact height that they need, in order to reduce contact stress and all of the awkward postures that can come with it, such as shoulder elevation, forward reaching, etc. The bonus with an electric adjustable desk is that users can also alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day. 

Which brings us to our next point:

3. Limit static postures. Static postures are stationary postures that are uninterrupted by movement. Sitting was vilified by the media for a while, and we often find that people still have a misconception that standing solves everything. But (surprise!) standing is also a static posture. And it can be just as hard on the body as sitting.  “Static” in this context simply means non-moving. 

How can you apply this guideline?

Some static postures are built into office work. To reduce the effects of static posture, we recommend moving around and/or changing position at least once per hour. This is another area where an electric adjustable desk can be helpful, as it can encourage the user to alternative between sitting and standing. But even with an adjustable desk, the user will be choosing between two static postures; the benefit is that those two postures can be varied as needed.

 A very simple thing that can be added – for free! – is an hourly microbreak. Microbreaks are 2-3 minute chunks of targeted, mindful movement; encourage your employees to take hourly microbreaks, even if they’re regularly varying their postures. 

4. Limit repetitive motions. In a way, repetitive motions are the opposite of static postures, and show that so much of ergonomics is about finding a healthy balance. Too much movement causes its own problems, such as repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). RSIs such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow can be painful and scary, and can lead to decreased functioning in the affected areas. 

How can you apply this guideline? 

Just like with static postures, there are repetitive motions built into office work. Typing and mousing are both repetitive tasks that often can’t be modified. You can help by making sure that your employees have the right tools for the job, that the tools fit, and that those tools are functioning properly. 

This is one area where you’ll probably want to have several different items available to employees. Someone who does graphic design might function better with a stylus, whereas someone who copies and pastes repeatedly might function better with a programmable keyboard or mouse. Someone with narrow shoulders may need a keyboard without a 10-key pad (so that the mouse can be moved closer the body), and someone with broad shoulders might need a larger, curved keyboard, to avoid curving their wrists inward when typing. And having equipment that is responsive and connects easily can cut down on having to make multiple attempts at the same task. 

Additionally, this is another area where microbreaks can help! While movement during a microbreak is ideal for body parts that have been static, resting during a microbreak is recommended for body parts that have been performing repetitive motions, such as the hands and wrists. Targeted, gentle stretches for the hands and wrists can also be helpful; these can be performed even more often than microbreaks. Stopping to stretch the hands and wrists every 20-30 minutes would be ideal, and can help lessen the effects of repetitive motions.

Choosing the right equipment and furniture can be hard, especially if you’re in charge of ordering for other people. So, if you’re buying furniture and equipment for one employee, or for a whole office, keep these guidelines in mind. And if you need us, we’re happy to help! We can guide you through your choices, develop an approved equipment list, or even help you build your own ergonomics program, so that you know everyone is getting exactly what they need to stay comfortable, healthy, and productive.