4 ms·

There are guides you can find about how to position yourself. Essentially, you want your forearms to be parallel to the ground, and your upper arms just restin

by mod 9y ago

There are guides you can find about how to position yourself. Essentially, you want your forearms to be parallel to the ground, and your upper arms just resting normally along your sides. Next, you get your chair the right height. Again, there are guides, but mostly you want your feet touching the ground. Then you determine your desk height, which is dictated by what's needed to keep your arms parallel to the ground. Desk height, though, is the hardest to alter typically, so you may find that to avoid hassle you end up adjusting your chair height. Not ideal, though. I'm also 6' tall, but I've never had any obvious problems getting into a comfortable position with normal desks. You shouldn't either, even if you have long arms. Just find the proper setup. I now have a desk I custom-built for myself. I did measure myself first, but I chose a traditional height for the top--something like 29". For what it's worth, it can be difficult (and uncomfortable) to change your habits in the beginning, if your posture needs adjusting. I'm a slouch and it is not easy to sit up straight for very long. Good luck!

SmellTheGlove 9y ago
This is all really good info, and accurate as best I know. I work for an insurer, so maybe a given, but we take workstation ergonomics really seriously. I don't have long arms, but I'm also 5'8" - even still, I have the right desk height, monitor height, chairs, etc. I'm now at a fixed standing desk, which I chose because an adjustable desk meant I'd always choose to sit, but none of this is one size fits all. Always measure!
- tboyd47 9y ago
  Is there any info out there where you can map your body dimensions like height, arm length, etc. to optimal desk and chair dimensions?
  - mod 9y ago
    http://www.ergonomics-info.com/image-files/desk_ergonomics.jpg http://www.ergonomics-info.com/image-files/desk_ergonomics.j... Start with your chair, since your legs are a fixed length. Your chair height should depend on that, not your desk height. Then hold your arms out at the appropriate level and measure to the floor. That is your top-of-keyboard height, so your desk top should probably be about an inch shorter than that. Then just ensure your desk has clearance for your legs given the heights. For my custom desk, I had to cut short the apron as I had made it too tall. Also realize that you have some leeway in the angle of your legs and arms, and that you really must be sitting up straight. (Ask someone if you are!)
tboyd47 9y ago
Yeah, I'm starting to think I may need to custom build a desk. Desk height is a clear part of the problem. But I'm afraid that the best desk height for preventing tension is going to be around where my knees end up. The chair will be difficult, because in order to not have arm tension I'll have to have them resting almost down to where my hip bone is. I can't say I've ever seen a chair with arm rests that low. I'm realizing that the key issue for me, ergonomically, is the "arm rest," which is really not a good name because it is impossible to truly "rest" my arm on one, meaning relax the muscles.
- convolvatron 9y ago
  I'm not that tall, and I don't think my arms are long. but for me having no armrests and keeping my keyboard in my lap (its a shorter kinesis with wells) is the best position to avoid wrist, elbow, and shoulder strain. so I don't really care about the desk height, only the monitor height. plus with the keyboard on my lap like that I get to shift around in my seat
  - adiabatty 9y ago
    I've been mulling a standing desk for this reason.
  - tedmiston 9y ago
    What do you do with your mouse?
    - convolvatron 9y ago
      i usually tape a trackball to the blank center of the kinesis
- mod 9y ago
  > But I'm afraid that the best desk height for preventing tension is going to be around where my knees end up. I have to respectfully disagree. Unless your elbows are level with the tops of your legs, when seated, then this will not be the case. Most desks are only something like 3/4" thick (that's the thickness of mine), and you will almost certainly have at least that much of a gap. If you don't, make sure you're sitting up straight. > I can't say I've ever seen a chair with arm rests that low. Get one without armrests, or take them off. On my chair they're adjustable, and the lower setting is approximately level with the top of my hip bone. However, that is a couple of inches too short. Again, ensure you are sitting up straight (and get your shoulders rolled back, if you slouch). Proper posture is by far the most important part of this whole equation--coming from someone with piss-poor posture! I have this chair, and taking the arms off would take me, I think, under a minute: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q5XTE8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q5XTE8/ref=oh_aui_sear... I found it recommended in a thread here on HN for chairs. It's basically an Aeron ripoff and I don't have any complaints about it, after a year.

by mod 9y ago

SmellTheGlove 9y ago

This is all really good info, and accurate as best I know. I work for an insurer, so maybe a given, but we take workstation ergonomics really seriously. I don't have long arms, but I'm also 5'8" - even still, I have the right desk height, monitor height, chairs, etc. I'm now at a fixed standing desk, which I chose because an adjustable desk meant I'd always choose to sit, but none of this is one size fits all. Always measure!

tboyd47 9y ago
Is there any info out there where you can map your body dimensions like height, arm length, etc. to optimal desk and chair dimensions?
- mod 9y ago
  http://www.ergonomics-info.com/image-files/desk_ergonomics.jpg http://www.ergonomics-info.com/image-files/desk_ergonomics.j... Start with your chair, since your legs are a fixed length. Your chair height should depend on that, not your desk height. Then hold your arms out at the appropriate level and measure to the floor. That is your top-of-keyboard height, so your desk top should probably be about an inch shorter than that. Then just ensure your desk has clearance for your legs given the heights. For my custom desk, I had to cut short the apron as I had made it too tall. Also realize that you have some leeway in the angle of your legs and arms, and that you really must be sitting up straight. (Ask someone if you are!)

tboyd47 9y ago

Yeah, I'm starting to think I may need to custom build a desk. Desk height is a clear part of the problem. But I'm afraid that the best desk height for preventing tension is going to be around where my knees end up. The chair will be difficult, because in order to not have arm tension I'll have to have them resting almost down to where my hip bone is. I can't say I've ever seen a chair with arm rests that low. I'm realizing that the key issue for me, ergonomically, is the "arm rest," which is really not a good name because it is impossible to truly "rest" my arm on one, meaning relax the muscles.

convolvatron 9y ago
I'm not that tall, and I don't think my arms are long. but for me having no armrests and keeping my keyboard in my lap (its a shorter kinesis with wells) is the best position to avoid wrist, elbow, and shoulder strain. so I don't really care about the desk height, only the monitor height. plus with the keyboard on my lap like that I get to shift around in my seat
- adiabatty 9y ago
  I've been mulling a standing desk for this reason.
- tedmiston 9y ago
  What do you do with your mouse?
  - convolvatron 9y ago
    i usually tape a trackball to the blank center of the kinesis
mod 9y ago
> But I'm afraid that the best desk height for preventing tension is going to be around where my knees end up. I have to respectfully disagree. Unless your elbows are level with the tops of your legs, when seated, then this will not be the case. Most desks are only something like 3/4" thick (that's the thickness of mine), and you will almost certainly have at least that much of a gap. If you don't, make sure you're sitting up straight. > I can't say I've ever seen a chair with arm rests that low. Get one without armrests, or take them off. On my chair they're adjustable, and the lower setting is approximately level with the top of my hip bone. However, that is a couple of inches too short. Again, ensure you are sitting up straight (and get your shoulders rolled back, if you slouch). Proper posture is by far the most important part of this whole equation--coming from someone with piss-poor posture! I have this chair, and taking the arms off would take me, I think, under a minute: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q5XTE8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q5XTE8/ref=oh_aui_sear... I found it recommended in a thread here on HN for chairs. It's basically an Aeron ripoff and I don't have any complaints about it, after a year.