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hether you endure the daily commute or sit in front of a computer for hours on end, our bodies can often be put through the wringer when it comes to work. But with the recent trend of Working from Home or WFM, becoming more and more popular, the need for a comfortable workspace becomes even more important. Raising the question, why are ergonomics important? While ergonomic design has been a topic in the workplace for years, it is often overlooked when it comes to home offices.
In this blog post, we’ll explore why ergonomics is important, how it can affect our health, and how Macally’s Mac-compatible peripherals can help promote a more comfortable work environment.
Table of Contents
What Is Ergonomics?
Before we dive into the question of why are ergonomics important, let’s define what ergonomics actually means. Simply put, ergonomics is the science of designing tools, machines, and systems to fit the human body. Thus, a device or tool like a keyboard focused on this concept is named ‘an ergonomic keyboard’.
These design choices take into consideration a person’s physiological and anatomical factors to create products that promote comfort, safety, and efficiency. Or rather, they make everyday tasks more comfortable. When it comes to work environments, ergonomic design can help reduce the risk of injury and discomfort, increase productivity, and minimize fatigue. Making them a useful, underrated role for every work-from-homer’s home office.
How Does Ergonomics Affect Our Health?
A great example of this is Macally’s Ergonomic Wireless Keyboard for Mac. It has been designed for the ideal wrist positioning for long periods of typing. By splitting the keyboard into two halves, and positioning each half at opposing angles, it creates an ‘ergonomic design’ with countless benefits. In the tech community, it is often said when you purchase an ergonomic device, you can’t go back to standard designs. The ergonomic keyboard does exactly this. Providing an exceptionally comfortable position for your hands, makes typing seamless and reduces the number of mistakes as well as pains and strains.
When we sit, working, for long periods of time, it can take a toll on our bodies, specifically our wrists and fingers. Poor posture, uncomfortable seating, and repetitive motions can lead to muscular discomfort and strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even chronic conditions like lower back pain. It can also increase the risk of eye strain and migraines due to poor lighting and computer screen positioning. By asking the question, why are ergonomics important, and assessing the answer. We can utilize devices that follow ergonomic design principles to reduce the risk of these health issues and promote better overall comfort during work hours.
This may seem like an unnecessary step, but it has real science supporting it with significant health benefits. The World Health Organization (WHO) conducts a yearly Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report that identifies all the causes of health conditions throughout that year. This report identified some crucial statistics in favor of ergonomic design. Firstly, since 1990, lower back pain has been the leading cause of disability, and secondly, on average 39% of office workers will suffer from upper limb work-related injuries. This is attributed to our shift into the offices, as manufacturing jobs are replaced by office jobs and it’s a significant problem. With muscular-skeletal issues (wrist and back pain) accounting for 52% of all sick days in the US.
The report attributes the biggest cause of these injuries to a lack of ergonomic designs. If you want to reduce your chances of being one of the five office workers who experience long-term injuries from prolonged work in offices, it may be time to invest in ergonomic devices
The Benefits Of Ergonomic Peripherals
Macally has been designing ergonomic peripherals for years, and their products can help alleviate discomfort in your home office or workspace. With products like the Ergonomic wireless full-size keyboard and ergonomic mouse, Macally takes into account the angles of our bodies during typing and mouse usage to promote comfort and prevent strain.
External laptop stands and monitor risers also help elevate screens to more comfortable heights, reducing neck strain and eye fatigue. In addition, Macally’s dimmable LED desk lamp helps reduce glare and promote better lighting, easing the strain on your eyes.
Creating An Ergonomic Workspace
Now that we have answered our why are ergonomics important question, and we understand the importance of ergonomics, how can we create a more comfortable workspace?
Start with an ergonomic desk and chair, and make sure that your computer screen is at eye level. Use a wireless ergonomic keyboard and mouse for more comfortable typing and mouse usage. Adjust your chair height so that your feet are flat on the floor and your knees are level with your hips. Finally, practice good posture and take breaks every 30 minutes to stretch and walk around.
Wrap Up
In the age of Working from Home, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to ergonomics. Our bodies can take a real beating when we work marathon hours on the computer, and it’s essential to create a workspace that promotes comfort and safety.
By utilizing ergonomic principles and investing in products like Macally’s ergonomic peripherals, we can reduce the risk of injury and promote better overall health and productivity.
