Managing Workplace Discomfort

For more information about Office Ergonomic Principles

1. Neck tension, tightness, upper back and shoulder discomfort.

Probable Cause 1A: Head is too far forward during reading, writing, or viewing the VDT screen.

How to Correct 1A: Elevate work surface, reading materials, and VDT screen so as to keep the head and trunk relationship more vertical.

Probable Cause 1B: Hands and arms not supported while typing, inputting data, writing or using hands in manipulating or holding work.

How to Correct 1B: For typing tasks, adjust the armrests to the correct height and angle to support the weight of the arms and use palm rest or wrist rest.

Probable Cause 1C: Head is too far back during reading, writing or viewing VDT screen.

How to Correct 1C: Tilt the seat and backrest forward so as to keep the head and trunk relationships more vertical.

Probable Cause 1D: Head and neck are tilted in a lateral direction holding the telephone between the shoulder and ear.

How to Correct 1D: Use headset.

2. Hand, wrist and lower arm discomfort.

Probable Cause 2A: The wrist is deviated in an unnatural position.

How to Correct 2A: Set the keyboard and/or calculator to produce a neutral wrist position.

Probable Cause 2B: Excessive application of force to keys.

How to Correct 2B: Reduce excessive force through training and practice.

3. Lower back pain discomfort.

Probable Cause 3A: Lumbar curvature is not being maintained and supported.

How to Correct 3A: Bring backrest in further horizontally through in and out adjustment or tilting forward, and/or changing lumbar curvature via inflatable lumbar adjustment (if equipped). The backrest should be placed just slightly above the pelvis to provide support in the lumbar region (lower back).

Probable Cause 3B: Major thigh muscle is pulling on the spine because feet are dangling or unsupported.

How to Correct 3B: Lower chair and/or use footrest so that the feet are supporting the weight of the legs only. Backrest should be placed slightly above the pelvis to provide support in the lumbar region.

Probable Cause 3C: Increased disc pressure due to vertebrae not having equidistant spacing. This results in stretching the muscle, tendon and ligament systems.

How to Correct 3C: Open up trunk/thigh angle towards the neutral position.

4. Buttocks discomfort.

Probable Cause: Sitting too far forward in the seat pan and not using the backrest.

How to Correct: Open up the trunk/thigh angle towards the neutral position.

5. Thigh discomfort.

Probable Cause 5A: Too much pressure on the thigh because chair is too high and legs are dangling.

How to Correct 5A: Lower chair height so that feet are supporting feet and lower legs only.

Probable Cause 5B: Too much pressure on the the popliteal area (soft tissue behind the knee) from the seat pan.

How to Correct 5B: Sit forward in seat pan and adjust backrest forward.

6. Lower leg/foot discomfort.

Probable Cause 6A: Too much pressure in the popliteal area (soft tissue behind the knee). Circulation is restricted to lower leg and feet, putting pressure on the nerves to lower legs and feet.

How to Correct 6A: Sit forward in seat pan and adjust backrest forward.

Probable Cause 6B: Infrequent posture changes in the feet and lower legs and feet.

How to Correct 6B: Utilize a well designed footrest to promote movement and frequent posture changes.