,
We already know that gamers are, unsurprisingly,
not immune to the negative effects of excessive idle sitting (sitting is the
new smoking!), what kind of ergonomic gear should gamers seek out for their
gaming setup?
A gamer may have some different specific needs
than your typical professional (lawyer, accountant, engineer, trader, etc),
although the core ergonomic gear to help them fight the negative effects of
sitting will be the same. Since most gaming rigs utilize more desk real estate,
more consoles, and gaming paraphernalia, it’s important to choose ergonomic
gear that support various gaming essentials.
If you are a gamer on a budget, here are the
little environmental improvements you can work on to gradually introduce
ergonomics to your gaming:
1. Start with an Ergonomic Chair
Most
popular gamers may have panhandled their ergonomic chair sponsorships to you at
some point, and this is because ergonomic chairs are one of, if not the most,
popular ergonomic products geared solely towards gamers. Open any Youtube video
with “streamer” or “gamer” in the title, and you will likely find them
comfortably seated on their spankin’ new ergonomic gaming chairs.
But, getting a new
ergonomic chair (or an ergonomic
wobble stool like the AnthroDesk Wobble Chair) is only one part of
the battle. It is a good place to start, but ergonomic chairs will not entirely
protect you from the effects of sitting. In fact, what most ergonomic chairs
are designed to do is to make sure you are comfortable and you get sufficient
lumbar support as you sit for hours at a time.
2. Fight Carpal Tunnel by
Supporting Your Wrist
Ergonomics is not only limited to spinal care;
there is a whole line of wrist-support products in the market (like vertical
mice), proving how vulnerable wrists can be to joint pains.
One common example of joint issues is carpal
tunnel, which attacks the tendons and muscles around your dominant wrist. Most
carpal tunnel sufferers share that their condition arose from excessive and
unsafe use of work equipment, including computers. One way to help fight this
is to use an ergonomic vertical mouse,
3. Rest Your Soles on
Comfortable Foot Pads/Mats
If you sit or stand for lengthy periods of time,
experience leg fatigue or lower back pains as you sit, or you find yourself
sitting cross-legged subconsciously because your body is trying to relieve
bouts of strain, one of the best ways to deal with stress is to rest your soles
comfortably on foot pads. This is also particularly helpful when your feet do
not reach the floor when you are seated, or when the floor is too cold to sit
or stand on.
Foot
pads will work regardless of how your entertainment room is constructed. Even
with carpeted floors, a foot pad may still be beneficial if the goal is to
enjoy added comfort as you work and play or if you want to eliminate back pains
that often come when you stand or sit on uncomfortable surfaces for extended
periods of time.
4. Employ a Better Posture When
Playing
Making the switch to ergonomic gear is only half
the battle to conquering back pain and other issues that may arise due to
excessive sitting or standing. To make healthy effects stick, it’s important
that you start employing a better posture when working or playing.
Exercise, self-discipline, and mindfulness of
your posture are just a few things to ensure that the positive changes you are
making now are felt for years to come.
5. Choose the Ideal Sit to Stand Desk
The
final piece of the puzzle and possibly the most important decision to make when
working on your ergonomic gaming set-up is finding the perfect standing desk
that will offer you both a comfortable and healthy gaming experience.
To
come up with the perfect choice, it often helps to list down what’s important
to you as a gamer. Would it be more convenient for you if you could play on a
gaming desk that accommodates multiple monitors or different consoles? Do you
need an ergonomic standing desk that adjusts height automatically, or would you
settle for a desk that can be manipulated manually?
Also
take the layout of your area into consideration. If your current computer desk
is lodged at the corner of the room or between two adjacent walls, would you get
the most value from an L-shaped standing desk?
Identifying
your needs is often the best first step to take when making any sort of
purchasing decision.
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