Your shoulder consists of several joints that connect to various tendons and muscles. The complexity of your shoulder is what enables you to do so much with your arms. It’s also the reason why many people suffer from shoulder pain and injuries. Chronic shoulder pain often stems from prolonged, repetitive, or awkward movements. This type of pain is sometimes referred to as repetitive strain RSIs are frequently caused by tasks atSmall, repetitive activities can strain the muscles and tendons of your upper body, including your shoulder. Activities that can cause RSI include: using a computer mouse swiping items at a to lower your risk of developing RSIs and shoulder pain at work. Shoulder pain often develops gradually rather than all at once. It may be hard to pinpoint the exact cause of yourPotential sources of work-related shoulder pain include: working with your arms force or pressure on your shoulder, even in small amounts
stress, such as that caused by resting your wrists on a hard desk static loading, when your muscles have to hold your body in one position for a long time such as vibration caused by a power tool such as vibration caused by driving over rough roads Physically intensive jobs aren’t the only ones that can cause shoulder pain and injuries. Office workers also have a high risk ofA large number of RSIs are computer related. environments and work habits can weaken your muscles and set the stage for pain,” explains Micke Brown, a long-time nurse specializing in pain management. To minimize neck and shoulder pain, it may reduce the stress that your daily routines put on your body Ergonomics is the process of designing equipment, systems, and processes that function well with human bodies. friendly work environments and habits are key to reducing your risk of workplace injuries and pain. If you work at a desk, try these tips to improve
your workspace and avoid shoulder pain. Be aware of how you sit all day. sitting at your desk, your: feet should be planted firmly and flat on the floor or a stable footrest parallel to the ground lower back should be supported and close to your body wrists and hands should be in line with your forearms “As fatigue sets in through the day, we tend to slouch, worsening the posture and strain on the body,” says Chris Sorrells, an occupational therapist and ergonomics specialist. posture is key to avoiding and relieving shoulder pain. If you can’t seem to sit straight, Micke suggests taking up yoga or tai chi. These types of exercises may help you develop better core strength and overall posture. Your desk should be level with your elbowsIf it’s too high, it can cause shoulder fatigue. not adjustable, consider installing an adjustable keyboard and mouse tray. Your computer monitor should sit about an
arm’s length away from you. The top of your screen should be just below your eyeKeep your monitor and keyboard centered in front of you. twisting your neck to look at your monitor can cause neck and shoulder pain. “Neck problems, such as pinched nerves, often refer pain into the shoulder It’s also important to keep tools and supplies that you use regularly within easy reach. Twisting or stretching to reach them can increase your risk of pain and injury. If your job entails a lot of talking on the phone, consider using a headset. If you don’t want to use a headset, try to avoid cradling your phone between your ear and your shoulder. within easy reach of your nondominant hand. That way, you can continue to type or use the mouse while you’re talking. Try switching your mouse to the other sideThis will ease the workload of your normal mouse hand. particularly effective if you tend to have shoulder pain on only one side.
It may also help to build variety intoTry not to do the same activity for hours at a time. returning phone calls, using the copier, or speaking with coworkers through the“That way you’ll switch which muscle groups you’re using but will still be productive. regular breaks and walks Chris suggests taking a 30-second “microbreak” every 30 minutes. During each break, shake out your hands andAlso, relax your eyes, head, and neck by refocusing your vision on a point about 20 feet away from you. Every once in a while, leave your desk andSorrells suggests a 10-minute break every two to three hours. Taking a longer walk on your lunch break is also a good idea. Don’t push yourself to the point ofYou should never try to perform a physical action you feelFor example, ask for help lifting or carrying heavy loads. It’s also important to seek medical help when you need it. If you develop pain, make an appointment with your doctor.
you leave the underlying issue untreated, it may get worse and lead to other shoulder pain related to their work. To help lower your risk of pain and injury, adjust your workspace and habits to be more ergonomically friendly. you don’t feel comfortable completing a physically demanding task by yourself, askAnd make an appointment with your doctor if you develop pain or other symptoms of a workplace-related injury. Getting treatment can help ease your symptoms and lower your risk of complications.Back-Angle AdjustmentYou can adjust the ErgoHuman chair into three different positions using a tilt-lock mechanism. Lumbar support is integrated into the back panel of the chair, though it looks like two separate panels. This limited range of back-angle adjustment was a noticeable missing feature in our testing compared to the Viva.Back-Angle AdjustmentThe Viva chair has a handle for adjusting the back angle and integrated lumbar support. The back position isn’t limited to three positions, plus you can lock whatever angle you choose for comfortable lounging.
The wider variety of angles might be a plus for people who like to put their feet up on their desk every once in a while.Tilt ControlUse the ErgoHuman chair’s tilt tension control feature to adjust how much force it takes to recline or sit up. It also comes with “synchro-tilt,” which allows the backrest to recline while keeping the seat close to level with the floor. If you’ve ever leaned back in a rocking chair and felt terrified of toppling over, you’ll understand why synchro-tilt is a nice feature.Tilt ControlThe Viva chair also has a tilt tension control feature and synchro-tilt. If tilting gives you vertigo, you can lock the chair in the upright position. The back tilt mechanism can be locked after you change angles, unlike the ErgoHuman chair. This additional locking feature may not be used frequently but would be a nice to have when needed.HeadrestThe ErgoHuman chair comes with a headrest with adjustable height that can be removed entirely, too. This is a nice feature for tall people.
Note that it has a convex shape, curving outwards towards the back of your head.HeadrestThe Viva chair headrest is also removable and height adjustable. It has a concave shape to cradle the back of your head or support your neck. If you like to have the back of your head or neck braced rather than cradled, you may prefer the ErgoHuman chair.ArmrestThe ErgoHuman chair’s leather armrests are height adjustable, pivoting, and can also be left out of the installation if you want to avoid them entirely.ArmrestThe Viva chair’s plastic armrests are height adjustable, too, and can be left out.Seat HeightThe ErgoHuman chair has a seat with adjustable height and depth. The seat can be adjusted as low as 18.5 inches or as high as 22.2 inches.Seat HeightThe Viva chair’s seat is only adjustable by height, from 16 inches to 20 inches.Height AdjustmentA pneumatic cylinder allows for smooth and quick adjustment of the height of the ErgoHuman chair. Height AdjustmentJust like the Ergohuman, the Viva chair also uses a pneumatic cylinder for height adjustment.
MeshThe ErgoHuman chair’s bottom and back panels are all cushioned with highly breathable mesh. Mesh has become a modern office chair material because it keeps you cool, supported, and comfortable while you work. It’s also more durable than traditional upholstery like leather or vinyl and requires less maintenance.MeshThe Viva chair has a mesh back and an upholstered mesh seat for extra comfort. The mesh helps excess heat and humidity escape, preventing sweat (or “moisture,” as some like to call it) from accumulating against your back or behind. The cushioned seat is softer than the ErgoHuman’s mesh seat without being suffocating and is still covered in a layer of mesh for similar benefits.Rolling WheelsThe ErgoHuman chair has sturdy plastic rolling wheels. Rolling WheelsThe Viva chair also has plastic rolling wheels. Feel free to replace them with different ones if they don’t cut it for you.Weight LimitThe ErgoHuman chair’s maximum capacity is 250 lbs, suiting a range of different heights and weights.
Weight LimitThe Viva chair has the same maximum capacity. If you’re close to or over the weight limit, you will need a chair with a higher capacity.AssemblyThe ErgoHuman chair requires some assembly, but our office chair review team found it relatively quick and easy. You can also purchase assembly for a low price if you have mobility issues or just don’t feel like fiddling with hardware.AssemblyThe Viva chair comes unassembled, too, though you can also purchase assembly or put it together yourself without too much trouble.ColorsThe ErgoHuman chair comes in black, blue, burgundy, copper, green, or gray. The mesh color changes while the frame and base of the chair remain the same. Keep an eye on which colors are available with Prime for an extra-good deal.ColorsThe Viva chair is only available in black, but you could always spray paint it… or not. If you’re craving a reclining office chair with a hint of color, the Viva chair might not cut it. But if you’re more focused on comfort and features, the Viva chair certainly met our standard for the best chair for posture.