Laptop Ergonomics

1. You need to pay special attention to how you use a laptop because it may cause you problems. Because of it’s design, using a laptop is often a trade-off between poor neck/head posture or poor hand/wrist posture. Laptop Ergonomics

2. Problems with Laptop Use • Lack of adjustability of the height of the work surface, and the screen and keyboard, can result in the arms being held too high or the neck bent to view the screen. • If poor postures are adopted frequently or for long periods, musculoskeletal injury may result. • If the screen is tilted upward to reduce bending of the neck, reflections can be a problem. • Carrying laptops may contribute to back and neck problems.

3. Solutions forOccasional Laptop Users • Find a chair that is comfortable and allows you to sit back. • Position your laptop in your lap or on another surface (e.g. desk or table) for the best wrist posture that you can achieve. • Angle the laptop screen so that you can see it with the least amount of neck bending. For occasional short-term use you should:

4. Solutions forFull-time or Frequent Laptop Users • Position your laptop on a desk or work surface so that you can see the screen without bending your neck (you may need to raise the laptop off the desk surface using a stable support). • Use an external keyboard and mouse so that forearms are parallel with the work surface or angled slightly downward. If you use a laptop at work as your main computer or you use it frequently or for long periods you should:

5. Useful Links Information and guidance on equipment suitable to reduce laptop ergonomic problems can be found at the following links: Special Needs Equipment - CSU http://www.csu.edu.au/division/healsafe/injury/sne.htm Monitor Risers and Laptop Stands – Effective Ergonomics  http://www.effective-ergonomics.com.au/Monitor%20Stands.htm