There has been a lot of talk on here about bad necks. It is a huge problem and related to the computer screens and craning your neck forward.
Something has just dawned on me.
If I throw 3 books under the monitor and sit closer I’m forced to look up a little and no neck craning can happen. You’ve got to be a touch typer or at least it helps if you are.
This is a daily problem and I think I’ve beaten it through something as stupid as 6".
Said it before and I’ll say it again: Tai chi and slow stretching for an hour each morning, or even just the slow stretching by itself will do wonders for desk-bound problems.
No shit? All I have to do is go out on the balcony and watch the old ladies stretch and do tai-chi?
Saaaweeeet!
The top of the monitor should be at about eye level.
Through in a few core muscle ball exercises and your good for go.
Through in a few core muscle ball exercises and your good for go.[/quote]
Is that Kegels for dudes then, or what? 
Seriously, what are they?
Through in a few core muscle ball exercises and your good for go.[/quote]
Is that Kegels for dudes then, or what?
Seriously, what are they?[/quote]
He, he. Didn’t realize how that could sound.
It’s a little like pilates using a flexible ball to do core strengthening exercises and even exercises with light weights. It’s all about working the muscles that support your spine and also working all the little muscles that help with balance (the ones that tend to go weak as we get old).
I started using a ball to exercise with a year and a half ago. Honestly made me feel like a new man.
Here’s a few exercises. The bridges and extensions are the ones I am talking about for the back:
You’re hurting pretty much cuz you’re not moving. Or moving in a limited way. Sitting is one of the worst things for your back.
I have serious RSI from many years ago of desktop publishing. It’s still really really bad. I used to work out more. I don’t do enough Yoga but I’m trying to.
If you have a laptop, that’s not so great. I think the CDC considers using laptops a hazard.
Ideally, I’ll eventually get a height adjustable desk, one where I could sit, sit on the floor, or stand. And get a monitor with a VESA mount so that could also be height adjustable.
[quote=“Big Fluffy Matthew”]The top of the monitor should be at about eye level.[/quote]Right. You want to be looking slightly down, not slightly up. A good posture is to have the chin very slightly tucked back, but the head level.
I think taiqi, yoga and some kinds of qigong are really good things. But if you already have problems such as RSI, proper diagnosis and possibly treatment are needed.
I do daily exercises. But I also need to keep having traction for a while yet.
Yes, that is where everybody has it. Who says that is the correct height and why?
Did Bill or Steve say it is correct?
To me it just happens to be the desk top to monitor height we all settle with and laptops are another 4-5" lower and worse again.
This works for me. I got to the end of the day yesterday and no neck pain for the first time in years. I know to keep my head back but when the work is intense and I’m really absorbed in it my blasted head rocks forward of its own accord.
[quote=“Ironman”]This works for me. I got to the end of the day yesterday and no neck pain for the first time in years. I know to keep my head back but when the work is intense and I’m really absorbed in it my blasted head rocks forward of its own accord.[/quote]Well, good if it works for you. As long as you’re not craning your neck up. Craning and slouching are equally bad for your neck.
And I do find that with the top of the monitor at eye level it’s easiest to keep my neck and shoulders in the optimal position.
What BFM reported was the advice of people who study this stuff and know their anatomy. I have no idea whether “Bill or Steve” are specialists in ergonomics. I suspect not.
Well, I’m down to 4" today. I had a good neck and sore eyes after 12 hours on the computer yesterday.
Seriously sore eyes. Had to be the angle. I’ll keep experimenting on myself.
If I don’t post anymore you’ll know what happened. Eyes popped out. Neck fine, eyes gone.
[quote=“Ironman”]Well, I’m down to 4" today. I had a good neck and sore eyes after 12 hours on the computer yesterday.
Seriously sore eyes. Had to be the angle. I’ll keep experimenting on myself.
If I don’t post anymore you’ll know what happened. Eyes popped out. Neck fine, eyes gone.[/quote]
I’m down to 2" today. I’ve worked out the sore eyes. I have a damaged left eye socket and slight double vision when I look up. Hence the severe eye and headache problems.
But, even the 2" is a significant improvement on the neck problems.
If you’re working a notebook then the screen would be about 4-6" lower than I have mine now. Bad news. I used to use a notebook sitting perched on books with a plugged in keyboard for that very reason.