Ergonomic Office Furniture Key Terms

Learn terms for ergonomic office furniture to help you set up your workstation
By Adah Chung Ergonomic office furniture has been created to help maximize function and to decrease injury due to prolonged sitting. Office furniture, designed with the posture and position of the worker in mind, can help to provide comfort, relieve tension, and prevent repetitive strain injuries. In some cases, ergonomic office furniture can even correct poor postures. Ergonomic office furniture has many components that make up a workstation that is safe and comfortable. The following are some key terms related to components of ergonomic office furniture.
 

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is that science of designing work spaces to fit the needs of the worker. It is the study of ways to maximize productivity and decrease potential strain on a worker due to poor positioning at his or her workstation.
Try: Health, Environment & Work describes ergonomics in more detail.

Ergonomic chair

An ergonomic chair is one that allows for proper positioning when sitting. It helps to put the spine in a neutral alignment to avoid stress on your muscles and back. An ergonomic chair also allows adjustment of height and armrests for comfortable positioning.
Try: The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety defines an ergonomic chair and describes its features.

Height adjustable workstations

Height adjustable workstations are tables that allow for height adjustment to meet the needs of the worker. These workstations come in a variety of styles, but all have the same feature of height adjustability to help with proper positioning, whether sitting or standing.
Try: MCErgo.com provides examples of height adjustable workstations.

Ergonomic keyboard

Ergonomic keyboard trays are trays that attach to your desk or workstation. They hold the computer keyboard at a position that is comfortable for your wrist and forearms, allowing for good support and neutral positioning of your wrists to prevent injury.
Try: See the Blue Hen Office Furniture site for examples and descriptions of ergonomic keyboard trays.

Footrests

As part of ergonomic office furniture, the footrest serves an important purpose in allowing for proper positioning of your knees and hips. They let the feet rest comfortably while sitting so that your knees and hips stay in a 90-degree position for maximum function.
Try: The Human Solution provides examples of footrests for your workstation and describes how they are helpful.

Ergonomic mice

Ergonomic mice are computer mice that are designed with principles of positioning so as to decrease repetitive strain on your hands and wrists. Some ergonomic mice are vertical in position, which means your thumb rests on top.
Try: Ergo-items.com shows many types of ergonomic mice on its website, with descriptions of how they are ergonomically useful.