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by brandonmenc 2856 days ago
Agree with you in general - that adjusting your body, and not your keyboard, is the fix - but not necessarily the specifics.

The most important fixes imo are:

- Neutral angle wrists (elbows flared so that it's a straight line from the elbow to the fingertips, i.e. no wrist "yaw")

- Monitor at eye-level

- Forearms parallel to the ground

- Feet planted on the floor

afaik slouching takes pressure of the lumbar vertebrae, but neither that nor sitting up straight is uncomfortable for me, and I arbitrarily alternate between the two. Also, arms resting on the desk doesn't bother me.

I find it nearly impossible to work on a laptop for any length of time, mostly because of the monitor-at-eye-level requirement. Speaking of, an adjustable monitor arm is the best investment you can make. I use the Humanscale M2.
1 comments
deno 2856 days ago
I take no issue with anything on that list. The pressure on lumbar is because of the positioning of your pelvis[1].

> Speaking of, an adjustable monitor arm is the best investment you can make. I use the Humanscale M2.

I have my monitor on top of an entire hifi set and an old VHS player. But yeah an arm seems more sensible ;)

[1] https://i.imgur.com/mp9uqLb.jpg

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brandonmenc 2856 days ago
Agree - that image looks painful, but I'd term that a "hunch" more than a "slouch" (not sure if ergonomics makes a distinction between the two.)

My "slouch" is more of a reclining position, which I find quite comfortable.

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deno 2856 days ago
> My "slouch" is more of a reclining position, which I find quite comfortable.

Reclining is fine for relaxing but it’s not an ideal position for typing/work. For one thing you’re encouraging rounded shoulders, e.g. see: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/common-posture-mistake...

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brandonmenc 2856 days ago
> you’re encouraging rounded shoulders

I lift weights regularly, which I'm guessing compensates. I agree that it would cause problems sans weightlifting.

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screye 2856 days ago
Wait ! So an anterior pelvic tilt when sitting is actually good for you ?

That seems counter inuitive since it is bad for you to stand in that way .

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deno 2856 days ago
The scan is from a book called “8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back” by Esther Gokhale which I recommend reading and makes the case for a J shaped spine (rather than S shape).
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