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Ergonomic Hand and
Wrist Position When at Rest
By Chris Adams
Ergonomics is the process and study of
people's efficiency in their workplaces and environments.
The term ergonomics comes from
the Greek word ergon, which translates
to work, while the second part, nomoi, means natural laws.
The process of ergonomics
involves designing products and systems that best fit those using them.
People are at the heart of
this "human factors" based work, which is a science that has a
mission to understand the human ability and its limitations.
The main goal in ergonomics is
to minimize the risk of injury or harm to people.
Human Factors and Ergonomics
Human factors and ergonomics are often
combined into one principle or category, known as HF&E.
This practice has been
researched in many fields such as psychology, engineering, and biomechanics.
Examples of ergonomics include
the design of safe furniture and easily used machines to prevent injuries and
disorders like physical strain, which can lead to disability.
The categories of ergonomics
are physical, cognitive, and organizational.
Physical ergonomics focuses on
human anatomy and physical activity and looks to prevent illnesses such as
arthritis, carpal tunnel, and musculoskeletal disorder.
Cognitive ergonomics is
involved with mental processes like perception, memory, and reasoning.
For example, decision making
and work stress can relate to interactions with a computer.
Organizational ergonomics, on
the other hand, focuses on structures and policies within work systems.
Teamwork, management, and
communication are all forms of organizational ergonomics.
The Natural Wrist Position in Ergonomics
The natural wrist position in
the field of ergonomics is the posture the wrist and hand assume when at
rest.
The upright position of the
hand, like that of the handshake grip, is not a neutral position.
When using a computer mouse,
for example, the aforementioned position can be harmful. Rather, the position
to adopt should be that of when the hand is at rest.
The wrist should also be at a
neutral position and should not be bent or tilted.
For best results for both your
hand and what's happening on the computer screen, finger joints should be
placed mid-position with muscles being only slightly stretched.
Doctors and professionals
assess designs on how to use products, like a mouse, in comparison to the
neutral position, in order to meet a standard requirement that considers
the joint motion, physical restrictions, the range of movement, and more.
The natural wrist position
when at rest is characterized by the following:
· A straight, unbroken wrist
· The hand rotated to a relaxed
position (30-60 degrees)
· The fingers curled and at rest
· The thumb straight and relaxed
How the Natural Wrist Position Is Defined
Medical professionals have
decided on these characteristics as the defining points of the neutral position
of the hand from a functional perspective.
For example, consider the
mechanics behind placing a hand in a cast when injured.
Doctors place the hand in this
neutral position, as it brings the least tension to the muscles and tendons of the hand.
It is also in this position
due to functional efficiency upon cast removal, as according to biomechanics.
Chris
Adams
Engineering
Expert
Education
B.I.D,
Industrial and Product Design, Auburn University
Introduction
Human
factors engineer and industrial designer
Human
systems integration lead at Strata-G Solutions, Inc.
Experience
Chris
Adams is a former writer for ThoughtCo who wrote about ergonomics for more than
nine years. Ergonomics is the study of how humans effectively interact with
their work environment. Chris has more than 11 years of experience working in
the field of human factors and ergonomics. He was a human factors and systems
engineer with Jacobs Engineering working on NASA's the Ares I and V rocket
systems. Chris later became the lead of human-system integration for Strata-G
Solutions, Inc.
Chris
specializes in furniture design and corporate identity and works as an
independent consultant on various design projects. His work for ThoughtCo appears
on many websites, newsletters, and books which focus on engineering spaces for
human use.
Education
Chris
Adams earned a Bachelor of Industrial Design (B.I.D.) in Industrial and Product
Design from Auburn University in 1999.
ThoughtCo
and Dotdash
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