HP Pavilion xt500 HP Pavilion PC - Safety and Comfort Guide - Page 24

Arranging Your Work Area AVOID! Armrests should not cause you to: ◆ Elevate or droop your shoulders. ◆ Lean excessively onto one or both elbows. ◆ Extend your elbows out to the sides. ◆ Anchor your wrists, forearms, or elbows while typing. ◆ Markedly bend your wrists. ◆ Sit too far away from your keyboard or pointing device. Arm Supports and Palm Rest You may find that supports for your forearms or hands allow you to be more relaxed and comfortable. Supporting Your Forearms Some chairs provide padded areas for resting your arms. You may find it comfortable to support your forearms on these padded areas while typing, pointing, or pausing. If your work surface is deep enough, you also may find it comfortable to use your work surface as a support area (with your keyboard and monitor moved back to create a comfortable space for your forearms). Chair or work surface forearm support is properly adjusted for typing when your shoulders are relaxed; each forearm is evenly supported and is still free to move while typing; and your wrists are in a comfortable, neutral position. The support is not adjusted properly if your shoulders are elevated or drooped; you feel pressure on one or both elbows; your elbows are extended out to your sides; your wrists, forearms, or elbows are anchored and fixed while typing; or your wrists are markedly bent. Another option is to use forearm supports only when pausing, allowing your forearms and hands to float freely while typing and pointing. In this case, the support is properly adjusted when it is slightly below your forearm typing position but close and available for pauses (such as when you are reading from the screen). Experiment with the height of your arm supports to find which approach is most comfortable for you. Let the comfort of your neck, shoulders, elbows, arms and wrists be your guide. RIGHT Forearm supports are properly adjusted when your shoulders are relaxed, your forearms are supported (yet free to move while typing), and your wrists are in a comfortable, neutral position. 3-6 Safety & Comfort Guide