It’s no fun being average… but at least your desk and workstation have been designed with you in mind. If you’re above-average height you will know that it’s not quite so easy. Posture professional Jo Blood gives tall guys and gals a few hints on how to make their working environment work for them.
Tall tales: resolving workstation issues for people above average height
Did you know that the average height for a person is increasing, yet the standard height for desks has remained unchanged for over 30 years? Here at Posture People, we now regularly see people over 6’5”, our tallest customer (a freelance graphic designer) has topped the scales at 6’10”. The simple fact is that standard office furniture is too small for people at this height. The common problems are that the desk heights are too low, chairs are too short to provide support under the legs, and monitor screens are set too low.
Read on for Jo’s posture pointers for peak performance…
Desks
The correct position to be sitting at is to have your feet firmly on the floor, raise the chair up as high as possible, bend your arms at a comfortable right angle, and then this is the perfect desk-height for you. (Download Posture People’s PDF guide How to improve your workstation for more information)
There are several options for resolving desk height issues:
Desk raisers: These can be a simple as blocks of wood under desk legs, the only problem is that these aren’t always that sturdy and if the desk moves off the raisers, then the desk can drop in height very suddenly (which isn’t great for health and safety).
The next option is set up a height adjustable desk. The height of the desk can be altered at the time of installation allowing the ideal height to be selected. This is the sturdiest cost-effective solution.
The Rolls Royce solution is to set up an electric height adjustable desk, the electric mechanism allows the user to alter the desk height without any difficulty. So you can actually use the desk to sit and stand at, so giving you the maximum versatility when it comes to your working posture.
Chairs
There are lots of chairs on the market, but when you are selecting a chair – go and sit in it! And sit in it for a prolonged period so that you can really assess if it provides support. When you are tall, one of the most important aspects is the height of the chair. If you get your desk to the right height – will your chair also come up to the right height? A quick test is to sit on the chair increase it to full height – are your hips above your knees? If not, then the chair doesn’t come up high enough for you.
Screens
And finally make sure the monitor is at the right height. If you are a touch typist, then the top of the screen needs to be at your eye height level. If you need to look at the keyboard to type, then set your monitor at a slightly lower height. The result you are trying to achieve is to minimise any nodding movement on your neck, looking at the keyboard and the monitor.
The final advice as always is don’t get stuck at your desk, I know deadlines creep up but taking regular breaks (whether you are tall or not) is essential. A mini-break will make you feel better when you sit back down, and therefore you can work harder in between the breaks and may even make that deadline quicker.
Is your chair a pain in the bum? Does your work station feel like a torture garden? Ask for Jo’s advice in the comments below…
Jo, is there any solution for the roaming freelancer? I’m now at multiple office locations and as your last article probably talked about my chairs range from an old swivel chair to a very old dining chair! I can’t carry around an ergonomic chair but is there possibly a mobile cushion solution?
Jo Blood Jan 20, 2009 at 9:24 am
Hi Darren
There are several mobile cushions options on the market, a good starting point is a sitting wedge cushion, which would encourage a forward tilt in your pelvis (which is better for your posture) and maybe combine it with a back support cushion. The only problem is they are quite bulky to carry around.
A more portable solution is the backfriend. It provides both support under the legs and for your back, but it has a built in carry handle.
AJ Aug 10, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Jo,
I am fairly talk and what for whatever reason my desk is very low. I asked my employer and although they said they would get me a chair to sit lower to the ground, they would not move the desk any taller. Any suggestions beyond sitting as low as possible?
Jo Blood Aug 11, 2009 at 7:17 am
Hi AJ
Sitting low, particularly if you are tall is really not a good long term solution, it will put extra strain on your lower back.
Do you think it’s a cost objection to getting a higher desk? If so there is something called desk raisers, which are a really low cost solution to raising the desk
This product would allow the desk to be raised to the correct height without having to spend a fortune on changing the desk.
You can get chairs with lower gas lifts to allow you to sit lower, but the danger is that if you sit lower your knees will be above your hips which will cause extra strain on your lumbar (lower) back region.
Jo
athikities supabiola Jul 11, 2010 at 7:55 pm
If you are the one who snoring, I have some good pillow information. You can see details at http://www.antisnorepillow.us/
simon Sep 1, 2010 at 12:59 pm
I am 6′ 3″ and shopping for a new office chair, where could I start looking? London UK
Making money with screencasting: Great guide for both screencast makers and owners. I’ve read your screencast handbook and really enjoy it Ian. Hope you can introduce... >>
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Jan 20, 2009
at 8:39 am
Jo, is there any solution for the roaming freelancer? I’m now at multiple office locations and as your last article probably talked about my chairs range from an old swivel chair to a very old dining chair! I can’t carry around an ergonomic chair but is there possibly a mobile cushion solution?
Jan 20, 2009
at 9:24 am
Hi Darren
There are several mobile cushions options on the market, a good starting point is a sitting wedge cushion, which would encourage a forward tilt in your pelvis (which is better for your posture) and maybe combine it with a back support cushion. The only problem is they are quite bulky to carry around.
A more portable solution is the backfriend. It provides both support under the legs and for your back, but it has a built in carry handle.
Aug 10, 2009
at 5:52 pm
Jo,
I am fairly talk and what for whatever reason my desk is very low. I asked my employer and although they said they would get me a chair to sit lower to the ground, they would not move the desk any taller. Any suggestions beyond sitting as low as possible?
Aug 11, 2009
at 7:17 am
Hi AJ
Sitting low, particularly if you are tall is really not a good long term solution, it will put extra strain on your lower back.
Do you think it’s a cost objection to getting a higher desk? If so there is something called desk raisers, which are a really low cost solution to raising the desk
http://www.online-ergonomics.co.uk/shop/shop-infopage.php?longref=480~0
This product would allow the desk to be raised to the correct height without having to spend a fortune on changing the desk.
You can get chairs with lower gas lifts to allow you to sit lower, but the danger is that if you sit lower your knees will be above your hips which will cause extra strain on your lumbar (lower) back region.
Jo
Jul 11, 2010
at 7:55 pm
If you are the one who snoring, I have some good pillow information. You can see details at http://www.antisnorepillow.us/
Sep 1, 2010
at 12:59 pm
I am 6′ 3″ and shopping for a new office chair, where could I start looking? London UK