EK HEALTH

-by Kim Granata-Clark, MS in Human Factors and Ergonomics, Ergonomic Specialist

Do you have your keyboard and mouse on the keyboard tray or on the work surface.  Both can be OK as long as you set yourself up with good posture.  

If you use your keyboard and mouse on the keyboard tray, the tray should be at your elbow height or slightly lower if you are a touch typist (don’t look at the keys on the keyboard).  Place your elbows next to your body and the keyboard should be at your fingertips.  You can place your tray in a slight negative tilt (away from you) so your hands relax down slightly but not too much where your keyboard and mouse slide down the tray.  

If you use your keyboard and mouse on the work surface, you need to make sure that you have raised yourself high enough in your chair so your elbow height matches the height of the work surface.  Use a footrest if your feet are not flat on the ground.  Place your fist on the work surface, is your elbow lower than your fist or level; it should be level.  Don’t support your forearms on the work surface with a forward, rounded upper back posture or reach for the keyboard and mouse.  Sit back in your chair, use the chair backrest, and pull the keyboard and mouse close to the edge of the work surface with your elbows next to your body.

Use good posture when working with your keyboard and mouse on the keyboard tray or on the work surface.