Ask Slashdot: What Is the Best Position To Work For Long Hours?

New submitter damitr asks: "What is the most ergonomic position if you are working with a laptop or a desktop (with or without wireless keyboard and mouse) for long hours at stretch? Is bean bag for sitting with a laptop a good option? What is the best way to use a desktop without causing tennis elbow and backache/neck problems?"

none

[Anonymous Coward]

there is no positition such that sitting still in it for a long time wont cause problems.

Re:missionary.

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh, no.

COWGIRL

Let her do all the work while you relax.

Re:Recumbent.

[CastrTroy]

Only if you don't bother getting any other exercise throughout the day. If you're the kind of person who gets regular exercise outside of work, you probably won't mind sitting down for a few hours at work. Standing at work is better than sitting at a desk and then walking to your car, sitting in your car, walking to your couch and sitting on your couch. But no amount of standing will make up for real exercise. Also, I remember that last time I had a job where I spend 8 hour days on my feet, I would come home with some pretty tired legs at the end of the day, and didn't want to do any real exercise. So while my legs may have been building some muscle, I don't think my heart and lungs ever got a work out.

Re:none

[Hognoxious]

You call bullshit on something you know nothing about, and back it up with an article that cites a member of the British Chiropractic Association as if they were an authority rather than (as has been legally proven) a bunch of quacks and charlatans..

I'll send you the bill for a new irony meter. The needle on my old one is shaped like a hairpin.

The hell?

[AlienIntelligence]

What the fuck man.

Ridiculous question.

At no point in our evolution was it designed for us to sit a long time. Your question has no answer.
ie, the answer is, what ever position works for you and doesn't kill you.

I'm sure others have mentioned standing. But... once again... we weren't designed to stand either.
We are an animal that was expected to be on the move at all times.

Standing will give you:
Varicose Veins
Popped capillaries
Edema
and still even the chance of DVT

Only thing that can be added, take daily aspirin, 80mg or so, to prevent the stroke you are going to get one day.

(My wife died from too much sitting. Literally. DVT behind her knee, broke off, went into lung, Pulmonary embolism
was a result. Upon surgery, part of the clot made its way to her brain. 3 blockages... coma. Few weeks later, and
I'm a widow. Extenuating circumstance? None that Dr would ever admit to. My consolation prize? Nearly 100 grand
in stuff the insurance wouldn't cover. )

-AI

Drink water...

[seifried]

Drink a lot of water and you'll be hydrated (good) and you'll have to get up to go the the bathoom. People can't really make a fuss over that, so you know have an excuse to get up, walk around, stretch, etc.