A-4 Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment Use armrests or forearm supports to support your fore-arms. If adjustable, the armrests or forearm supportsshould initially be lowered while all the other adjust-ments discussed in this appendix are made. Once allthese adjustments are completed, raise the armrests oradjust the forearm supports until they touch the forearmsand allow the shoulder muscles to relax.ADJUST YOUR INPUT DEVICESNote the following points when positioning your notebookcomputer or any external input devices. Position your keyboard directly in front of you. Avoidreaching when using your keyboard or mouse. If you use a mouse, position it at the same height as thekeyboard and next to the keyboard. Keep your wristsstraight and use your entire arm when moving a mouse.Do not grasp the mouse tightly. Grasp the mouse lightlyand loosely. Adjust the keyboard height so that your elbows are nearyour body and your forearms are parallel to the floor,with your forearms resting on either armrests or forearmsupports, in the manner described previously. If you donot have armrests or forearm supports, your upper armsshould hang comfortably at your sides. Adjust the keyboard slope so that your wrists arestraight while you are typing. Type with your hands and wrists floating above the key-board. Use a wrist pad only to rest your wrists betweentyping. Avoid resting your wrists on sharp edges. Type with your wrists straight. Instead of twisting yourwrists sideways to press hard-to-reach keys, move yourwhole arm. Keep from bending your wrists, hands, orfingers sideways.
