Ergonomics is defined as the science of designing the job to fit the worker, rather than physically forcing the worker’s body to fit the job. Of course, here we’re talking about gaming, but gaming and work have a lot in common. You have to stay focused for long periods of time, and any discomfort will break your focus. And anyone who has played at a competitive level will attest that gaming is hard work! And since we live in the modern world, you can earn money while playing video games, for example, if you’re good enough, let’s say at Runescape, you can provide OSRS boosting services and make a decent income. So, how can you ensure that you stay comfortable while gaming for hours? Let’s take a look.
Posture!
You’ve probably heard that people who sit at computers for long periods don’t have great posture. Well, this is often true, but it doesn’t have to be the case. In truth, sitting on chairs of any type isn’t anatomically great for you. The ‘natural’ sitting position for humans is a low squat where you rest on your heels. You’ve probably seen toddlers do this. However, we live in a world where squatting when you want to take a break is no longer the done thing – we’ve advanced beyond that, and now we have chairs! But not all chairs are created equal.
The issue is, most gamers just aren’t sitting correctly or don’t have the right setup.
Having bad posture while gaming for long periods of time can lead to all sorts of problems, including:
Lower back pain.
Neck pain.
Gamer’s thumb (strained ligaments in your hand)
Carpal tunnel syndrome.
Tension-headaches.
Deep vein thrombosis.
Here are some tips you can follow to ensure you have better posture while gaming.
Sit Upright
When we’re in a tense situation in a game, like maybe we’re lining up a shot in Call of Duty Warzone, we tend to alter our position. We lean forward in our chair and get closer to the screen. Doing this often is terrible for your posture. Instead, you should aim to lean back in your chair at all times and just have the chair closer to the desk if needed. A good chair will support your lower back which then alleviates pressure from your upper back.
Find The Right Chair
Finding the right chair for you might require you to look around a bit, but there are some common features you should look for in a good gaming chair:
Durability: If you’re going to be gaming for long periods of time, then you’ll want a chair that can withstand the heat. Always look at the reviews and try to find reviews posted by people several months after buying the chair. These reviews should tell you whether the chair is durable or starts to come apart after a few months.
Support: A gaming chair should always have lumbar support, either in the form of a lumbar cushion or a bend in the lower part of the chair. It should also have a headrest cushion.
Adjustability: Body types vary, and the best gaming chairs are built with this in mind. You should be able to adjust the elbow support, headrest, chair height, and back extension.
Make sure to pay attention to what height ranges the chair is intended for. For example, the same chair might not be as comfortable to a 6-foot man as a 5 ft 3 woman.
