If you work in an office, chances are that you probably use a computer for a great deal of your work. Anyone who has used a computer for hours on end can attest to the painful cramps and aches that can develop in the wrist and fingers. These can be mildly annoying or they can further develop into serious cases of carpel tunnel syndrome and other conditions that have lasting effects. Sustaining these types of injuries can jeopardize not only a career, but an active lifestyle as well. Thankfully, by applying the principles of ergonomics to the workplace, the physical health of those who spend the majority of their time typing away can be preserved.



Perhaps the most important element of the office space or work station is the keyboard. Not only is it the tool that relays the written content swimming around the user's mind onto a tangible textual platform, most functions of the mouse can be mimicked by specified key strokes. If your mouse gives out, a keyboard savvy worker could probably get through the rest of his or her work day without too much sweat. The same could not be said if the opposite were to happen.

By applying the principles of ergonomics to the contraction and design of keyboards, office workers can become more productive and more comfortable at the same time. One of the most significant aspects of an ergonomic keyboard is attaining proper wrist support. The functioning wrist wrest allows for minimal wrist bending by the operator. Improper placement of the wrist throughout rigorous typing episodes can result in very serious disorders to the body. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when a nerve in the wrist becomes pinched. The result is an extreme sensation of lingering pain experienced by the person affected. Musculoskeletal disorders can also result from improper wrist placement. These include the cumulative trauma disorders which can leave permanent damage.

There are other features of keyboards which lead to good ergonomic practices. Split keyboards allow the elbows to rest at a more natural position relative to the body for typing. While no direct research exists to prove that these keyboards alone can prevent the conditions mentioned above, they are largely regarded by those who use them as more comfortable. The height of the keyboard relative to the workstation is also important. Many keyboards come with adjustable tabs toward the back of the platform. These should be engaged at all times while typing to ensure that the keys toward the top of the keyboard are as easy to reach as the space bar level keys. Of course, none of these ergonomic designs will function properly if you are not typing in the correct manner. Make sure that you are typing from the home keys (F and J) and incorporating all of your fingers into your typing style.

If all of these factors are applied to your workspace, you will experience not only a boost in productivity, but a more comfortable work station.