HEALTHY COMPUTING EMAIL TIP 537: SYMMETRY IN MOVEMENT
Our body is designed for symmetrical movements. Performing repetitive one sided movement or sitting in a skewed posture increases the risk of injury. Alternate your movement patterns or rearrange your workstation so that there is symmetry in movement.
How to Increase Symmetry in Movement:
Observe your movement patterns and analyze your workstation layout for the presence of asymmetry such as:
Twisting to look at the monitorMousing with the same hand
Reaching for the phone with the same hand
Tucking the phone between ear and shoulder on the same side
Rotating the chair in the same direction when getting up
Twisting to the same side to greet people entering the office
Reaching to the same side for reference materials
Reaching to the printer
Crossing the same leg on top of the other
Carrying work materials or purse/briefcase on one side
What you can do:
Rearrange your workstation so that your movement alternates from one side to the other. For example, move the location of the monitor from one side to the other; carry your work, purse or briefcase in alternating hands; get up from a chair by rotating in alternating directions; re-arrange commonly used reference material so that it is closer to the center of the desk; get up and walk over to the printer.
Use equipment which avoids unilateral movements such as a headset for the phone. Practice physical movements to counter balance the asymmetry (e.g., if the monitor is placed to the left, rotate your head to the right a few times an hour).
