If you spend a lot of your time working at a desk, it is important to make sure that your mouse and keyboard are set up in a manner that is comfortable and will not result in any posture problems. With that being said, we are going to provide you with some tips on how to set up your mouse and keyboard properly. So, let’s take a look…
Make sure your screen, keyboard and mouse are positioned in front of you – This may sound obvious, but a lot of people have their mouse positioned to the side when they are using the computer. If you do this, you are going to have to twist your body in order to use it. The same goes if your keyboard is slightly to the left or right. This will put a lot of strain on your shoulders and torso if you are doing this all day, causing aches and pains. This is why you need to keep the mouse and keyboard directly in front of you so that you are as central as you can be.
Position your keyboard and mouse at elbow height – The next step is to make sure that your keyboard and mouse are the same height as your forearms and elbows. Your shoulders should fall relaxed by your side. If you keyboard and mouse are on different levels, you are going to need to move your arm up and down all of the time. You are at a greater risk of a musculoskeletal injury if you make repetitive and small movements like this throughout your day.
Place the keyboard and mouse close to the front of your desk – Another tip that can make sure you do not need a trip to the hand surgeon any time soon is placing your mouse and keyboard at the front of your desk. This means you are not going to need to stretch to use them, and consequently your wrist will also have the level of support it requires too. Compact keyboards are a good choice here because they give you the ability to draw the mouse in closer to your body.
When you are not typing, give your wrists and hand a break – The final piece of advice is to make sure you are relaxed and that you rest your wrists and your hands whenever you are not typing. Hovering over the keyboard whenever you are not typing is only going to put unnecessary strain on your shoulders and your arms. You should try to be more aware of where your arms are whenever you are not typing. Furthermore, doing arm and wrist exercises every 30 minutes comes recommended too.
So there you have it: some useful ergonomic tips on how to setup your mouse and keyboard effectively. It so important to follow the tips that have been presented above so that you do not end up experiencing any issues with your health.