Ergonomic Workstation Assessment

Make your workstation work better for you.

An ergonomic assessment looks at the fit between you, your equipment and the work you need to do. The goal is not to hold one perfect posture all day. It is to reduce avoidable strain, support comfortable positions and make movement easier to build into your routine.

What we look at

A useful assessment considers the workstation as a whole. Changing one item in isolation can simply move the problem somewhere else, so we look at how your equipment, work surface and tasks interact.

• Chair and lower-body support: seat height and depth, back support, armrests, foot support and room to change position.
• Desk and input devices: work-surface height, keyboard and mouse placement, wrist position and how far you need to reach.
• Screens and visual demands: monitor height, viewing distance, screen arrangement, glare and the needs of glasses or progressive lenses.
• Task layout: where frequently used items sit, whether the setup encourages twisting or leaning, and how it changes across different tasks.
• Work pattern: how long you stay in one position, opportunities to move, workload peaks and the practical limits of your space.

Recommendations are tailored rather than built around an “average” user. Small changes—such as adjusting a chair, moving a monitor or bringing a mouse closer—may be more useful than replacing everything.

Who it may help

An assessment may be useful when discomfort builds during computer work, your setup changes between home and office, or you are unsure how to arrange equipment for your body and tasks.

Common reasons to consider an assessment include:

• neck, shoulder, upper-back or lower-back tension during desk work;
• wrist, forearm or hand discomfort associated with keyboard or mouse use;
• headaches or eye fatigue that seem connected with screen position or visual effort;
• difficulty getting comfortable at a fixed-height desk;
• a laptop, dual-monitor or sit-stand setup that never feels quite right; or
• returning to desk-based work after an injury or a change in health.

Ergonomics is only one part of the picture. Sleep, stress, activity, prior injury and other health factors can also affect how you feel at work.

What to expect

1. We understand your workday. We discuss your main tasks, schedule, equipment, symptoms and the points in the day when discomfort tends to appear.
2. We review the setup. The assessment considers how your chair, desk, screens and input devices fit together and how you move while completing real tasks.
3. We test practical changes. Where possible, we adjust what you already have first and compare how different positions or arrangements feel.
4. We prioritize next steps. You receive a manageable plan that separates useful immediate adjustments from optional equipment or longer-term habits.

The purpose is to find a setup you can use, adjust and revisit—not to create a rigid position you must maintain.

How to prepare

The clearest recommendations come from seeing your real setup. Depending on the format of your appointment, it can help to bring:

• photos of the workstation from the front and side;
• basic desk, chair and monitor measurements;
• the make or model of adjustable equipment, when available;
• a list of the devices and tasks you use most often; and
• notes about when symptoms start, what makes them change and how long you work in one position.

If you use more than one workstation, identify which one you use most and where your symptoms are most noticeable.

After the assessment

Your recommendations may include chair or desk adjustments, changes to screen and input-device placement, ways to organize commonly used items, and realistic prompts for changing position during the day.

When equipment could help, we can explain the function to look for rather than relying on a label such as “ergonomic.” Your plan may also include mobility or strengthening exercises when they are appropriate for your assessment and goals.