In this article, we see the parameters you should consider when you buy desktop/table for your healthy workspace.
In the last year, as the coronavirus spreads worldwide, many of us were forced to leave the comfortable and convenient office and start to work from home. Whether you are a software developer, graphic artist, or publicist, It is essential to invest in a healthy workspace.
As the central part of the workday, we spend sitting in front of the computer, many of us understand the chair’s importance. We want to purchase the best ergonomic chair, and we are eager to invest in the best one. We spend enormous time studying the chair’s qualities. We check what the chair’s directional capabilities are. What the chair’s upholstery is and more similar attributes. We also make sure that the chair fits our size and weight.
However, when it comes to choosing a table we work on, the situation is entirely different. Many computer users do not understand the table’s importance to our healthy workspace. They do not find it worth investing in a suitable table and using a table that already exists in the home, such as their dining table or kitchen table. Even when they decide to buy a desktop for their workspace – they do understand the ergonomic parameters they should check. Therefore, they may choose an impressive and beautifully designed desktop that is not a suitable table and do not fit the desired ergonomic comfort.
Let’s see what you need to check before you buy desktop from your health perspective.
The Optimal Desk Height
The table height is an important factor in ergonomic comfort. An unadjusted table height will eventually cause pain. When you type and your computer is on a table that is too low, you bend towards the table, and this may cause back pain. In the same way, When you type and your computer is on a table that is too high, you raise your shoulders, increase the load shoulder girdle, and this may cause shoulder and neck.
What is the optimal table height?
- If you are taller than 1.85m, you probably need a table taller than 0.75m.
- If you are shorter than 1.60m, you probably need a table smaller than 0.72m
- If your height is in the range of 1.60m and 1.75m, you will probably feel more comfortable with a table height of 0.72m
- If your height is in the range of 1.75m and 1.85m, you will probably feel more comfortable with a table height of 0.75m
Let’s summarize it the following table (with other units as well):
| Your height (meter) | Table height (meter) |
| < 1.60 | < 0.72 |
| 1.60-1.75 | 0.72 |
| 1.75-1.85 | 0.75 |
| > 1.85 | > 0.75 |
| Your height(cm) | Table height(cm) |
| < 160 | < 72 |
| 160-175 | 72 |
| 175-185 | 75 |
| > 185 | > 75 |
The Optimal Desk Depth
Another important factor in ergonomic comfort is the table depth. First, the table depth should fully support your forearms. Second, it should also allow you to sit at a decent distance to the screen. In other words, the table depth should make it easy to fully support your forearms without sitting too close to the screen. If the table depth does not fulfill the above conditions – you eventually feel pain as it put huge pressure on the lower back, neck, and shoulder girdle.
For most of us, a table depth of at least 0.7m (27in) should be enough.
The Optimal Desk Length
If your table is too short, it will cause you to sit in uncomfortable working positions. The table should be long enough, so it allows you to frontally sit without interruptions to the legs. Moreover, It should also allow you to change your sitting position easily when necessary.
As a thumb of rule, You should choose a table that allows you to put your legs in the space of at least 0.9m (35in). While it is nice to have drawers and cabinets on the side of the table, It reduces the available space for your legs. Carefully check that the remaining space for your legs is above the threshold.
Besides space for your legs, the table should be long enough to allow you comfortable work. In other words, If the work you do also requires paperwork and binders, two or more screens, the table should be long and wide enough to hold them.
Why Desk Thickness is Important when buy desktop
At first, table thickness seems irrelevant. However, it is an important factor to consider. As the table thickness increases, you probably will not be able to adjust your chair for the correct seating height since the chair’s armrests get stuck in the table.
The table thickness should be at most 3cm (1.2in).
Sharp Edge vs Rounded Edge
The table edge determines whether you feel pain in your wrists when you type and use the mouse. While a table with a sharp edge causes constant stress on your wrists and eventually causes pain, A table with a rounded edge does not.
Therefore, you should choose a table with a rounded edge.
Summary
Before you buy desktop, you should consider your healthy. We see 5 factors that affects your healthy:
- If the desk depth is unsuitable for you, you eventually feel pain in your lower back, your neck, or your shoulder girdle.
- If the desk height is unsuitable for you, you eventually feel pain in your back.
- If the desk is too thick, you can not adjust your chair for the correct seating height
- If the desk is not long enough, you probably sit in uncomfortable working positions.
- If the desk have sharp edge, you eventually feel pain in your wrists
