Body Position

Each body part has a specific ergonomic position that will maximize comfort and help reduce injury (Table 2). With any part, however, it's important to take frequent posture breaks. If standing, sit periodically. If sitting, stand about every 20 minutes and walk around.

Table 2. Ergonomic Body Positions.

Body Part	Ergonomic Position	Image
Shoulder and Arms	Keep the shoulders relaxed, not shrugged-up or slumped-down. Keep your elbows close to your body Keep work at elbow height and directly in front of you as shown in the image below.
Head and Neck	Avoid situations that require prolonged or repetitive twisting, forward-bending, or backward-bending of the neck.
Hands and Wrist	Keep the hand in line with the forearm. Avoid repetitive twisting of the wrists. Avoid working with wrists pressed against hard surfaces or edges as shown in the image below. Keep wrists flat by flattening the keyboard or adding wrist rest.
Legs and Feet	Place a foot on a footrest for comfort Provide a toe space to allow work closer to counters and reduce reaching. Use mats on hard floors to reduce fatigue as shown in the image below.
Back	Stand straight. Avoid situations that require bending forward, backward, leaning side-to-side, or twisting. Use a stool to provide an occasional change in posture. If working seated, use a back rest/support to maintain proper posture. The chair that is shown in the image below offers neck, back, and lumbar support.