| If you work at a technical writer, there are | | | | Does it roll or are the rollers long since |
| a few things more precious to you than your | | | | missing? Is the seat pan adjustable and does |
| workstation and your chair. Whether you do | | | | the seat pan size fit your bottom size? Is |
| technical writing, technical editing or some | | | | the back of the chair adjustable? If your |
| other form of documentation development, | | | | desk is not height adjustable, then begin |
| these two pieces of equipment will become the | | | | adjusting your ergonomic office chair from |
| foundation from which you will conduct your | | | | the floor up. This means sit squarely with |
| work. So in this article we will look at the | | | | your knees bent. Lower the ergonomic office |
| ergonomic chair, as related to technical | | | | chair until your feet are flat on the floor. |
| writing.Regardless of how many hours a | | | | Next make sure your feet do not dangle. Sit |
| technical writer spends in their office | | | | up straight and adjust the seat pan and chair |
| chair, there are some important things to | | | | back to evenly distribute and support your |
| consider when selecting a good ergonomic | | | | weight.4. Do you need armrests? I think |
| office chair. But what exactly is | | | | armrests are vital for technical writers. |
| ergonomics? In plain language, ergonomics is | | | | Most ergonomic evaluators agree that for most |
| the study of how a human body functions in a | | | | office workers, adjustable arm rests are |
| particular environment with the tools and | | | | vital and allow the use to relax their arms |
| equipment of that job. That equipment and | | | | and shoulders. This prevents undue strain. |
| environment impacts the human body in various | | | | Adjust arm rests so shoulders are relaxed and |
| ways and the field of ergonomics involves | | | | elbows hang comfortably, and forearms, wrists |
| identifying risks for injury and controlling | | | | and hands are aligned in a straight, neutral |
| those risks.When you, the technical writer | | | | position. Remember your hands you be relaxed |
| considers purchasing an ergonomic office | | | | as you type. Do not make the mistake of |
| chair, these are some of the issues to look | | | | leaning on your elbow on your bare desk. A |
| at before that purchase.1. How do you sit at | | | | very painful condition of inflammation can |
| your desk? Do you put your feet squarely | | | | flare up in your elbow and send you running |
| below you? Do you sit with one leg folded | | | | for an ice pack.5. Finally, what are your |
| underneath you? Do you sit far away from the | | | | work habits? Do you sit for hours on end, |
| keyboard or hover closely over it? After you | | | | crunching numbers or writing? If so, no |
| purchase a good ergonomic office chair, be | | | | ergonomic office chair will fix your |
| sure to sit with your knees bent at a 90 | | | | stiffness or soreness from doing this to your |
| degree angle and your feet firmly on the | | | | body. Working in a healthy manner means |
| floor or a foot rest. Get used to writing | | | | taking breaks for your body. Get up and walk |
| with good posture and life will be much | | | | around or stretch in some way at least once |
| better in the end.2. How is your workstation | | | | an hour. This break will loosen up stiff |
| configured? Is everything you need within an | | | | joints, promote circulation and reduce muscle |
| arm's length reach? Are all of your work | | | | tension.Buying a good ergonomic office chair |
| surfaces at comfortable heights? It's | | | | is a great first step towards avoiding an |
| important that your monitor be an arms length | | | | ergonomic injury. Technical writers want to |
| away and at eye level and that frequently | | | | beware of this because a repetitive strain |
| used equipment and supplies are within easy | | | | injury could sideline you from your job while |
| arm's reach. Technical writing can sometimes | | | | your body rests or heals. If you are an |
| involve getting into the "zone." We all know | | | | independent technical writer, and not a |
| that means you just think and write. You | | | | salaried corporate worker, this can even |
| don't move. It's then that the configuration | | | | translate into loss of income. The world |
| of your workstation, your posture and the | | | | wide web is a great place to find tons of |
| quality of your chair become especially | | | | information on ergonomic office chairs, or |
| important.3. What is lacking in your current | | | | ergonomic injury prevention. |
| office chair? Is the height adjustable? | | | | |