15
15
Computer Ergonomics for the Therapy Professional: Summary
Case Study 4 Nicole is an accountant for ABC Studios. She is right-handed. She works about 9 hours a day at her workstation. Computer work is performed for about 6 hours daily. She reports taking about two calls daily, for a total of 1.5 hours a day. Paperwork is performed only once a week. She takes an hour break for lunch and two 20-minute breaks in the morning and evening. She does experience some eyestrain due to increased light on her screen. She stretches regularly in sitting and standing. She reports that she does not want a standing desk. Nicole recently obtained a new chair and reports that she does not know all the chair’s features. You found that the chair can raise another 5 inches in height, adjust/maintain the back angle, and change the seat depth. Nicole recently has reported neck, right shoulder, right wrist, and right finger concerns, especially at the end of the day. What possible environmental or product recommendations would you consider for Nicole? • Recommend adjusting the chair (bring the back angle forward, increase the height to where her shoulders are relaxed when using the mouse) to maintain a more upright posture and to maintain contact with the back of her chair. • Demonstrate in front of Nicole how to use the chair and have her practice adjusting the chair. • An ergonomic specialist measured the approximate distance from the table top to eye level. Recommend monitor risers so Nicole can bring the monitors higher, level with her eyes, thereby limiting bending at the neck. • Recommend using wrist support to keep her right forearm, wrist, and fingers level and minimize contact stress with the desk. • Sample a vertical and/or roller mouse to promote more neutral wrist posture and see if she feels less discomfort than when using the standard mouse. • Recommend using a Bluetooth headset to limit RUE static posture, as awkward finger movement is needed to hold the phone for 1.5 hours. • Recommend keeping more commonly used items nearby: notepad/pens further away, keyboard at a closer distance to maintain neutral posture. • Keep monitor brightness the same as office lighting; close blinds to block light from outside the window. Case Study 5 Wendy is a marketing manager at Corporation BIG. She works at her computer for about 8 hours a day and sits at her chair, on average, for about 2 consecutive hours before breaks of standing. She is often out of the office and does much of her work on a laptop computer. Wendy rarely uses the phone and does not do much paper work. Wendy reports that she has left hip and neck concerns. Left hip discomfort onsets after sitting for more than an hour. Her physical therapist has given her a list of stretches to perform. When you showed her how to do the hamstring stretch, she reported discomfort. However, she did not report discomfort with any of the other stretches you showed her. What recommendations would you make? • Recommend bringing a laptop carry-on large enough to carry her laptop and bring along a separate mouse, keyboard, and four 2-inch risers. With the risers, Wendy can look at the top of the monitor at eye level. With the separate keyboard and mouse, she does not need to rise for the elevated laptop keys but can type with her wrist, forearm, and elbow in a more neutral posture. • Recommend the performance of neck rotation, neck tilt, bird, and shoulder blade stretches as tolerated and without pain. She is also encouraged to incorporate her physical therapist’s prescribed stretches. • Wendy is encouraged to stand at standing work surfaces (i.e., elevated countertops), as feasible, and work standing for up to 20 minutes every hour as tolerated, thereby reducing static hip posture. She can position the risers as needed on the standing work surface and use the separate mouse and keyboard. Case study 5 continued on next page ►
Powered by FlippingBook