Laptop Ergonomics

1
You need to pay special attention to how you use
a laptop because it may cause you problems.
Because of its 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
For occasional short-term use you should

• 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.

4
Solutions forFull-time or Frequent Laptop Users
If you use a laptop at work as your main computer
or you use it frequently or for long periods you
should

• 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.

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/Monitor20S
  tands.htm