Sunday, 06 December 2009

• The Ergonomics Debate: Chair vs. Ball?

  
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  I've read some conflicting ideas on ergonomics. (According to Wiktionary, ergonomics is the science behind the design of equipment, especially so as to reduce operator fatigue, discomfort and injury.) I sit at the computer a lot doing some very tedious tasks most often for school, and in the past few weeks have suffered some back discomfort to the point of finally feeling I need a massage therapist. I'm 19 years old, but I feel 100.

  I know that there is a right way and a wrong way to sit, whether you're on a chair or on an exercise ball. Ergonomic chairs can adjust to specific heights and the backings can be set closer or farther. Exercise balls come in different sizes and are supposed to force you to use your own muscles to hold yourself up and in a proper position as you continue to rebalance yourself. Either way, if you do something for long enough and forget about it, you may well end up slouching again anyway.

  I've found that when I'm sitting in a chair, I'm incredibly restless and fidgety. I always have to reposition myself, and every few minutes I'll get up and walk around the house (or school) because I just can't sit for that long. With the ball, I let my eyes take a break every now and then but at the very least, I can bounce or roll it around so it's not as inactive or boring to just be sitting here. I still don't know what's better - this is my first day using the ball and I find myself switching back and forth. I'm definitely keeping both so it's not like either one would go to waste in any way. I can't afford to get one of those specified ball chairs with the backing and arm rests, but it does look neat.

  So what do you think is the best answer to this? Have you ever heard of ergonomics before?

  • 11:45 PM
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