With so much of our time spent sitting in front of computer screens, it's no wonder we've developed any number of conditions that are in some way related to it. Poor workstation posture can lead to headaches, repetitive strain injuries (RSI's) like Carpal Tunnel, back pain, nerve pain, numbness and tingling just to name a few.

It is much better to prevent injuries than to heal them. Some forms of RSI can give long lasting injuries. It is therefore important that you treat your body well from the start. One cannot cure RSI by buying a new mouse or keyboard. Although these things can help alleviate the pain, it is advisable to take some precautions sooner rather than later.

First, invest in a good chair. It is the most important piece of equipment you have in an office. Your chair supports your lower back and aligns the entire body with the computer station or desk, so choose carefully. The right chair should promote the following:

Healthy Sitting Posture
- Hips, elbows, and knees should be at slightly open
angles which means greater than 90 degrees.
- Wrists flat & straight in relation to forearms, don't
bend up or down
- Thighs should be roughly parallel with the floor
- Reclining slightly takes pressure off the lower back.
- Feet flat on a footrest or the floor - no pressure on
back of knees

Healthy Workstation Set-up
- Use a stable work surface & keyboard (no bounce)
- Use a document holder, preferably in-line with the
computer screen
- No glare on screen, use an optical glass anti-glare
filter
- Center monitor and keyboard in front of you
- Sit at arms length from monitor with top of screen at
eye level or just below

Healthy Habits
- Use keyboard shortcuts to reduce time spent typing
- Never use wrist rests or armrests while typing
- Relax your shoulders, keep elbows at your side
- Don't pound the keys. Use the minimum force required
- Take frequent short breaks & keep warm
- Stretch often (before it's too late!)
- Hold the mouse loosely and let go when not in use
- Vary your position and move around