Back to School Safety Guidelines - PatioandHomeFurniture.com Dispels Four Myths Associated with Computer Desks

(PRLEAP.COM) Bloomfield, CT (PRLeap) August, 2007 – PatioandHomeFurniture.com, an online retailer specializing in discount home and patio furniture, works hard to promote home office health. Their line of ergonomic computer desks and computer chairs helps to meet the needs of today’s students. As the school year approaches, parents and students should use these guidelines to properly set up computer desks and computer chairs for safe, efficient and comfortable work.

Purchasing proper computer desks and computer chairs and setting up a work space correctly prevents many injuries and chronic physical problems. There are many myths associated with the purchase and correct use of home office furniture. Addressing four such myths, PatioandHomeFurniture.com hopes to create a safe work environment in the home for the whole family.

Myth #1
Children can safely and easily use computer desks and computer chairs designed for adults without making any adjustments to the furniture.

FACT - Most computer systems are designed for the body of a 25-year old man. Therefore, computer desks and computer chairs that are properly adjusted to meet the needs of adults will likely not meet the needs of children in the same home. If parents and children are going to use the same computer desks and computer chairs, this furniture must be adjustable to accommodate users of various sizes. The computer chair should have height, back angle, and armrest adjustments. The computer monitor should be easily adjustable, as the top of the monitor screen should be aligned with the computer user’s forehead. The computer desk keyboard should be adjustable as well. The ideal position is to have the keyboard placed so that it is almost in the user’s lap at a negative slope. A keyboard tray that is height adjustable will allow for this variation.

Myth #2
Children are agile and don’t need to worry about how they use a computer desk or how they sit in a computer chair.

FACT – Children can experience work related injuries just as adults do. With their increasingly frequent computer use, children are prone to repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, “tennis elbow,” and tendonitis from constant computer use just as adults are. To prevent these injuries, children need to be taught to sit straight in the computer chair. Slouching over the keyboard can place undue stress on the child’s neck, back or spine and can lead to repetitive stress injuries. The child’s feet should be flat on the floor or on a footrest with the legs and hips perpendicular relative to the spine. Children should maintain a 90-degree angle between the wrists and elbows, and the upper part of the arms and fingers and wrists should remain level while typing.

Myth #3
Armrests serve only to beautify a chair and aren’t very important when shopping for computer chairs.

FACT – Research has shown that computer chair armrests provide many benefits and are important for a healthy work environment. The best armrests are height and width adjustable so that each user can rest the area of the forearm that lies halfway between the wrist and the elbow without compressing any part of the arm. The benefits of armrests include reducing postural strain to the upper body, reducing muscle loads to the upper arms, shoulders and neck, reducing strain on the spine, reducing forearm exhaustion while typing, and reducing keyboard force while typing.

Myth #4
It is not important to take specifically timed breaks from the computer desk and computer chair. Whenever the user is tired, he can stop working.

FACT - Even if the user has a proper computer desk and an ergonomic computer chair, it is very important to take specifically timed breaks. Both children and adults need to rest their eyes, backs, wrists and necks every half hour or so. The user should get up from the computer chair and should stretch, get a snack, or participate in a brief activity to avoid future pain. There should always be adequate lighting and no glare on the computer screen. In order to avoid eye strain, users should look away from the computer to something over 20 feet in the distance every few minutes.

Learning how to keep the family safe and healthy while using home office furniture is essential. PatioandHomeFurniture.com understands that properly positioned computer desks and ergonomic computer chairs ensure a healthy work environment for all members of the family. With their line of home office furniture, they help customers to create a more productive and satisfying work experience.

About PatioandHomeFurniture.com
Established in 2003, online retailer PatioandHomeFurniture.com provides customers with sturdy and stylish indoor and outdoor furniture. Comprehensive furniture buying guides help consumers assess their needs and preferences so that every purchase at PatioandHomeFurniture.com is a successful one. PatioandHomeFurniture.com is a subsidiary of Tail of the Lion, Inc.; it is a member of the BBBOnLine Reliability program; and it is certified daily by ScanAlert to ensure customer and site safety from hackers. For more information please visit http://www.patioandhomefurniture.com, or call 1-888-883-5860.

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