New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

laptops = bad posture

post #1 of 16
4/16/05 at 9:56am
Thread Starter 
Laptops are taking over but can cause aches and pains in the back, neck and wrists.
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 16
4/16/05 at 10:12am
Yeah, I believe it. I work on mine 16+ hours a day, and my wrists hurt. Probably should switch to using a visor and quit worrying about big LCD panel displays.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 16
4/16/05 at 11:36am
Doesn't surprise me in the least. *sigh* Such are the times. It'd be nice if there were a way to get better posture, but there really just aren't that many ways to do it. If you make one thing comfortable, you make a different part uncomfortable. (If you lay down a laptop, you're on your shoulders, if you put a laptop on a desk, you have to hunch over it, hurting your neck.)
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 16
4/16/05 at 12:09pm
Yeah, it sucks. At least with the desktop replacements, you get larger keyboards and bigger screens so you don't have to sit as close. At least, that's how I feel. I own 2 laptops (one a DTR and one provided by work which is a 15" Dell), and I never use the Dell. It's too small and I can't get used to that cramped space.

When I move and we create a home office, I'm making sure to get a docking bay for my DTR so that I can use a wireless mouse and keyboard and treat it like a desktop.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 16
4/16/05 at 2:45pm
I found this section especially interesting:
Quote:
"The technology is finally coming through, so people are starting to find clever ways to use it to deal with this," Bernstein says.

Experts say the sooner, the better. Ergonomists increasingly are concerned that laptop use among children is causing what were once considered old-age pains at an ever-younger age.

Worse yet, many fear that those who have learned poor ergonomics in their youth will find it difficult to learn better posture later on. "I see a good number of kids come in with lower back pain," says chiropractor David Schwartz of the Back Care Center in Dumont, N.J.

"Have you seen pictures of kids using computers? They lie on their stomachs on the floor and work on their elbows.

"That's a prescription for a lifetime of neck pain, back pain and lower back pain."

Couple things I do is take 2-5 minute breaks every so often as I see fit, sit back in my reclining chair and prop the laptop on one leg and at the lower stomach (no heat touches the body and posture is very relaxed), take pain pills j/k. One we should all be aware of is exercise, no matter if it's the usual routine or running to the second floor in your house, get some form of it. Lately, for the past month, Ive been employing the method of adding more weight to my school backpack, total of approx 40 lbs, and going for 30 minute walks, I am very amazed at the wonders it has done for my posture, you could use less or more weight depending.. Im not prescribing anything here. Then there's the Jujitsu. Gotta balance the laptop usage with other forms of physical movement. Good article, I sent it to a couple of buds who also have one.. like one who constantly complains of neck pain.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 16
4/16/05 at 5:13pm
If you're at home or have the option, just put the computer on a table. *shrug*
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 16
4/16/05 at 6:30pm
Yea, if I'm not on the road, I usually do not use my laptop unless I'm running multiple application already on my desktop. I do put it on top of a laptop cooler and a thick telephone book so it's about 3"-4" above the table so it's much easier on my neck/back. Using a wireless mouse makes it pretty easy for browsing the web and such but typing on it is still a pain.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 16
4/16/05 at 8:08pm
Well my friend found a really sweet chair that is like you're leaning instead of sitting. It's still comfortable (the seat feels like gel) and your knees have their own rest as do the feet, and then there is a table-ly at the top the you can put your laptop on (I think he originally got it for art, it is a big art desk).
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 16
4/16/05 at 10:58pm
Is that one of those things that specialty stores like Brookstone have? Workspace/Reclining Chair.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 16
4/16/05 at 11:19pm
If you have the desktop space then do what I did, buy a comfortable external keyboard and mouse (preferably wireless). If you have the extra cash you should also consider an external monitor setup at the proper height. Right now I'm using my laptop but it feels no different than my desktop. If you're on the road then I would definitely recommend a wireless mouse.

-grecinos
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 16
4/17/05 at 8:45am
unfortunately, i grew up in the computer age (born '84)...and been using computers ever since primary/elementary school..i have terrible pains in my arms, especially around the elbow area which is the result from using desktops for those many years and a laptop for 5..

and im only 20..even my mum (accountant) was diagnosed with RSI 6 years ago...thanks for the payout qantas ...so im doomed to receive RSI as well...just a matter of time
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 16
4/17/05 at 8:51am
double post
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 16
4/17/05 at 9:07am
I wouldn't go as far as a wireless mouse. You still need a flat surface to use it. I use a USB finger mouse. It's nice when you need to do a lot of mousing around, but when you're typing it's a lot faster to just use the touchpad.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cableson...4dfinmous.html

Wireless stuff is a pain because of the battery dependency and power drain. A USB cord is good enough with a laptop; it's not like you're going to be using it far from the laptop itself anyway so wireless is kinda pointless.

The thing that kills me on my current laptops is the cursor keys. With them located at the bottom right corner of the keyboard, with my hands in position to type on the main keys I wind up bending my wrist like 90 degrees to reach down to where the cursor keys are. (Because I'm leaning on a pillow as a type, with my elbows on my bed, I can't easily just back up my arm to get to the cursor keys.) The reach to the Home/PgUp/PgDn/End keys is also pretty annoying. I would have done better with the cursor keys at the top of the keyboard; reaching up to get to them is a lot easier than reaching backward.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 16
4/17/05 at 10:09am
One thing that could help posture is to buy a laptop with good vertical viewing angles. That way, you can sit upright in a chair, and tilt the LCD back a few degrees. No more hunching at your desk Real exercise is the most important thing to do, though.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 16
4/17/05 at 3:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hyc
I wouldn't go as far as a wireless mouse. You still need a flat surface to use it. I use a USB finger mouse.

Could always get a regular or wireless trackball, mines from Logitech, any surface or none is do-able with it. For example, placing it on my leg, knee or armrest of a chair works great; no need for a flat surface or a mouse pad.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 16
4/17/05 at 5:06pm
Since I'm going laptop only for a while, I'm thinking about getting one of these:

Kensington Notebook Stand

or

LapVantage
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Notebook Forums - General