Taking Care of Your Spine: The Benefits of Ergonomic Work Spaces

Ergonomic workspaces are designed to conform to an employee’s body to relieve pressure, ensure comfort, disallow exaggerated movement and promote good, natural health. For example, instead of a one-size-fits all approach to furniture, ergonomics allow the furniture to form to the person. Shorter people might have higher chairs; taller people might have their monitors raised. Many ergonomic chairs have adjustable hand rests and neck rests. Additionally, many ergonomic workspaces have stand-up desks that allow the user to stand and work. Ergonomic furniture is designed to accommodate and benefit the human body – allowing for comfort, less pain, and increased efficiency.

Whether implementing standing desks, allowing employees to sit on exercise balls, or having a professional ergonomic specialist ascertain workspaces, having an ergonomic workspace may have more benefits than not. And while ergonomic workspaces help employees feel comfortable and healthier, increase efficiency and productivity for employers, and reduce the number of sick days and insurance claims that affect the bottom line, the most benefits have to do with taking care of your spine.  Here’s how ergonomic workspaces can benefit your musculoskeletal health. Here’s how

Neck and back pain

Looking too high at the monitor; sitting on a hard chair all day; standing at a kiosk with no floor padding.  Workspaces that do not have adequate chairs and desks force you to accommodate to the equipment’s’ heights. By accommodating the body to the equipment, you sit in unnatural ways that promote improper posture and movement. This can impact your health, ranging from short-term pain in the beginning to long term-pain in the long run. In fact, over time, improper posture can lead to severe pain and nerve damage.


Ergonomic workspaces that include stand up desks prevent you from sitting for several hours at a time. The human body is not designed to sit for several hours a day – the more we move, the healthier we are. Standing desks promote a healthier lifestyle and are a great addition to any ergonomic workspace. Additionally, the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in our bodies tighten up when they are not moved often. Sitting at an office desk for several hours a day prevents our bodies from being as flexible as possible. This can cause reduced functionality of muscles which leads to pain and injury if you strain your muscles too much.

Long-term benefits

Ergonomic workspaces are a lot more common now than they were several years ago and this has made them much more affordable. More companies are offering ergonomic office furniture because the benefits are undeniable. A lot of manufacturers offer attractive prices for large orders, saving companies thousands of dollars. If you are interested in getting an ergonomic workspace, talk to your employer about getting it. If this is not possible, look into purchasing ergonomic equipment yourself. Ergonomic equipment is not limited to chairs and desks – there are a lot small ergonomic equipment such as mats, cushions, etc., that you can use to improve your workspace ergonomically.

If you suffer from musculoskeletal pains, lack of an ergonomic workspace may be making your condition worse.  Talk to a doctor about which ergonomic equipment can help reduce your pain.

Remember – the first person in charge of your health is YOU. This is an investment into your health that will benefit you for years to come.  Tarpon Orthopedics specialize in musculoskeletal health and treating issues such as pain caused by poor workspaces. If you have an orthopedic condition, talk to one of our specialists to determine whether your workspace may be making your condition worse and what you can do to improve your health. Call 972-596-1059 today to make an appointment.

Yenny Rojas

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