Preventing Low Back Pain While Using a Computer
The best way to avoid back pain if you use a computer a lot is to get up and move around frequently. Take stretching breaks every 30 minutes to 1 hour, if you can. There is no clear evidence on how best to position the computer screen and keyboard.
Some experiments suggest to look straight ahead at the screen at a viewing distance from the eyes to the screen of somewhere between 24 to 40 inches away, or 6 inches below eye level at a distance of 40 inches. Different people pick different distances for maximum comfort. Find your most comfortable zone, but avoid getting closer than about 24 inches to avoid eye strain. The keyboard is in a good position when you can type without bending your wrists up or down and when your forearms are roughly horizontal.
