1. About.com
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Ergonomics

Discuss in my forum

Guide to Setting Up an Ergonomic Computer Station

By , About.com Guide

The Keyboard
Improper Keyboard Setup

An ergonomically improper keyboard setup.

2006, Chris Adams, licensed to About.com, Inc.
The Keyboard
  • Position the keyboard slightly below the elbow and at a negative angle to allow the wrists to remain straight when you sit in a slightly reclined posture
  • Do NOT use a wrist rest while actively typing. It’s meant to rest on not to lean on when working. Hold your hands and arms off of any supports while typing.
  • Do NOT use the keyboard supports to raise the back up. Do NOT tilt the keyboard tray so that the back of the keyboard is higher than the front. Though design and a lot of prevailing information say you should tilt the keyboard to a positive angle like this, it is wrong. A negative angle that allows the wrists to stay in their natural wrist position is better. A positive angle is an repetitive stress injury waiting to happen.

More on Keyboard Ergonomics

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. 

A part of The New York Times Company.