June 20, 2008 – Do you spend your days in front of a computer and you often have neck, shoulder or back pain? You may want to tilt back your chair back and keyboard support 15 degrees backwards.
This was recommended by Dominique Le Borgne, an ergonomist specializing in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that affect office workers, during a conference on MSDs held in Montreal.1.
“Most people who work at the computer tend to lean forward to see the screen better,” says Dominique Le Borgne.
This results in hyperextension of the neck which, in the long term, results in chronic pain in the upper limbs. “These reach 75% of the suffering people I have met in companies,” she explains.
The elbows, wrists and fingers are also affected when leaning forward for a long time. With damaging consequences.
“When leaning forward, the user spontaneously looks for areas of support, either on the desk or on the keyboard,” explains the ergonomist. This causes strain on the elbows, wrists and fingers which can lead to tendonitis ”.
A simple solution
In the companies where she worked, Dominique Le Borgne observed that a slight adjustment of the back of the chair and of the keyboard support, towards the rear, provided a reduction in MSDs in the shoulders, neck and upper limbs.
“By adjusting the tilt of the seat, backrest and keyboard by 15 degrees backwards, gravity pushes the back to lean against the backrest and the posture no longer causes muscle tension. Thus, the head remains vertical and the effort to maintain it is minimal, ”she explains.
As the back no longer needs the arms to support the keyboard or the desk, the elbows, wrists and fingers are also freed from muscle tension.
The solution put forward by Dominique Le Borgne requires a reorganization of the spatial layout of the office. It may also require the purchase of equipment, but it is not special equipment.
Those who opt for this posture will need a period of adaptation of a few days. “Little by little, they have to reorganize their workstation so as to keep the papers and objects they need when they work within easy reach,” says the ergonomist.
No study has been carried out on the solution proposed by Dominique Le Borgne, who would also like researchers to apply it. But she maintains that this solution generally provides long-term benefits in those who adopt it.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. The 2e Francophone congress on musculoskeletal disorders took place on June 18 and 19, 2008 in Montreal. For more information: www.irsst.qc.ca [consulté le 20 juin 2008].
2. Dominique Le Borgne is the founder of ERGEV, a consulting engineering firm in ergonomics in Montreal.
