Ask Lemmy

If you sit at a keyboard for multiple hours every day you should consider getting one of these: https://kinesis-ergo.com/shop/freestyle2-for-pc-us/

Scroll right in the picture carousel to the photo showing the two monitors. That is the configuration I use mine in.

I was developing ulnar neuropathy from typing something like twelve hours a day while working for a startup. I got this keyboard and started using it with the 15 degree tilt configuration, and the ulnar neuropathy cleared up in about a month.

Before that, typing for a couple hours would result in tingling and numbness along the pinkie side of both hands. After about a month, that stopped and never came back.

I’ve since left tech and no longer have crazy long time on the keyboard, and now I just use the keyboard on my macbook, without any issue.

For reference, I was in my late twenties when this occurred. I’m now in my 40s and I will say that the ulnar neuropathy never came back.

The one thing about that keyboard to be aware of: it’s BIG. Each half is nearly the size of a macbook air. So it can be a bit much to carry in a messenger bag. A decent backpack, doable. But it’s really best as a permanent desk fixture.

Sideways mouse is great too.

My desk is in front of my bed

I have the GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair from Amazon and I love it.

I have upper back pain due to minor scoliosis. I'm also 6'1" so it's more challenging to find chairs that support my upper back well.

I bought this one because it has a lot of the features of the $1,000+ Herman Miller type chairs, but for less than $300. I bought it during the pandemic and figured if it lasted a year or two it would justify me forking out the money for the real expensive ones. Well 4 years later I'm still loving it.

The only complaint I had was the wheels are kind of crap, but I replaced them with some $30 rubber ones that look like rollerblade wheels. They are smooth fast and don't destroy my laminate floors.

The secret to not having back pain or other health problems due to office work is very simple:

Move!

Furniture that enables you to move throughout the day:

A standing desk. Use it to alternate between standing and sitting throughout the day.

Get one of these to seamlessly transition between sitting, near standing and standing: https://www.varierfurniture.com/en/move

Or these, they will make you maintain good posture: https://www.varierfurniture.com/en/variable

Using these will also train your core muscles ever so gently, giving you better posture and preventing back pain. Good posture will also make you more attractive to your preferred gender, so that's a plus.

If you are not in a healthy range as far as the BMI is concerned, obviously fix that first. No furniture can compensate for overloaded joints.

I got a "Actiu Tnk Flex" 2 years ago and so far so good.

Herman miller aeron. they are outrageously expensive but totally worth it. You can get them used from resellers but honestly just get one new from the store. I got a used one and have no complaints other than I didnt get a brand new one to my specifications.

Steelcase leap v2 from Crandall online.

They're an official remanufacturee, so they put new cylinders, new casters and other parts like fresh foam and fabric on them.

Mine was a grade B and honestly, I couldn't find a single mark or scratch on it.

Going to go a bit against the grain on this one and recommend SecretLab. It does have that "gaming chair" aesthetic, but it is a great chair IMO.

I work from home, sit on my ass for 8 hours straight, and occasionally game right after work into the evening. I can park my ass in that thing and sit for 16 hours no problem (obviously getting up to take short breaks etc). It is super comfortable. I own the mesh one, instead of the leather/pleather, and I think it's the way to go.

Furthermore, the customer service is excellent. I needed to replace the armrest after 4 years as it was beginning to crack. My model didn't come with the snap on/snap off armrests, so I had to send an email to customer support to see if there was something they could do. Not only did they inform me it was actually easily replaceable, they sent me instructions, and gave me 50% of the replacement cost, which was only $20CAD, as I was just over the warranty at that point. It might be a 3 year warranty, but I can't quite remember, possibly 4.

My circle of friends largely work from home as well, and many of them have SecretLab chairs, and they also love them. No back problems, super comfy, breathable.

The only downside I can really think of is that it is a fairly heavy chair, as the base uses a large amount of metal, and the price tag can be expensive, at around $500-$700CAD if you purchase new.

They are also sized to fit your height and weight. I own the Titan 2020 model, and I love it.

Hope this helps!

I can't recommend steelcase enough. I bought my wife and I a couple chairs from them at the start of covid, and the clip on the lumbar support for my chair broke recently. They shipped me an entirely new chair and told me to keep or donate the other one.

Steelcase or Herman Miller, find them used from local offices going out of business. Offer $50 and see if you get lucky.

We have what I believe to be Steelcase Leap at my work, and they've been outstanding for 12 hour shifts and 24/7 use for years now. Best office chair I've ever sat in.

Some desireable things to look out for are a back that pivots separately from the seat (major deal-breaker if not), a tensioner on the backrest so that you can lean forward and back naturally without using a lever, adjustable armrests (the more adjustment options the better), the shape of the armrest (convex is better than concave), correct height, correct seat depth, and correct backrest height.

Adjustable armrests make a huge difference. Fixed armrests are better than none but really you need to be able to raise them to the right height for you, so your shoulders and back can properly relax. Without supportive armrests your shoulders need to carry the weight of your arms all day.

Herman Miller Embody.

Instead of investing in a chair, I would say invest in a sturdy desk that can be raised to standing height.