gor[b] Paul Gorbould: Words and Pictures

Fixing the ‘Internet Elbow’

(Or, "Why are there holes in the left elbows of my shirts, and how can I stop wearing them out?")

The crazy thing about blogging is that once in a while, you write about something petty and obscure, and end up becoming the worldwide expert on the subject.

I guess it makes sense. Though I often fail miserably, I do try to write about things that haven't already been discussed to death. Which means that whatever I write, however weak, fills a void of some sort. It attracts traffic and comments, further boosting its profile. That's why I've somehow become the #1 internet resources for raccoon-proofing your green bin, or finding out if the word "chairman" is sexist, or if it's OK for able-bodied people to use the disabled washrooms. (Go ahead, search Google for those things - I'll be right at the top.)

I'm also, apparently, the go-to guy for a wardrobe malfunction I'm calling "Internet Elbow."

Last November, I posted a short item called More worn-out-elbows, where I described an inexplicably phenomenon: slowly but surely, the left elbows of all my shirts are developing small holes.

I figured I was just a freak (still possible.) But then a dozen people from around the world commented or e-mailed me, saying they too have the same problem.

Most worked on computers all day long, and sat at an L-shaped or bean-shaped desk. Some blamed their chairs. Some blamed their dry cleaners. All were baffled.

In an effort to solve my problem, along with some other miscellaneous aches and pains, I put in a call to the official CBC ergonomist. Though he hadn't encountered my specific elbow-hole issue before, he had some pretty good guesses. And last week, he dropped by and conducted a proper analysis of my workstation.

After a good deal of measuring, observing and interrogating, he had some sage advice. I'm posting what he told me here in case it helps someone, somewhere. My introduction notwithstanding, the following is by no means expert advice and is no substitute for getting info from someone who knows what the hell they are talking about. Come to think of it, that goes for blogs, and the internet, and life in general.

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In the opinion of the ergonomist, my elbow situation is very likely related to the way I sit and use the computer.

In his experience, most problems arise with people who are either shorter or taller than average. I'm 6'2", which is around the height where typical workstation configurations don't quite cut it. And my computer is set up in the corner of an L-shaped desk, which is sometimes problematic.

Here's a photo of the configuration. The numbered areas, and how they relate to ergonomics, are explained below.

1. Good old fashioned CRT monitor. It's too big to comfortably place anywhere but the corner (as I and almost all of my colleagues do.) Nesting it in the corner is an efficient use of space, but leads to leaning forward and resting elbows on the desk instead of the chair.

Since these monitors aren't height-adjustable, you can see that my monitor is elevated by a phone book - and the ergonomist says this is actually pretty good. You want to have your eyes even with the top edge of the monitor, and if it's not exactly right, a slightly lower elevation (like mine) isn't bad.

2. My keyboard and mouse are way too far back in the corner, resulting in my elbows leaning on the hard desk, not the cushioned armrests of the chair. Ideally, you want to have the keyboard at the edge of your desk, or on a keyboard tray. The trays aren't that popular around my workplace - they are harder to install in a corner, are often wobbly, and the older ones don't have a place for a mouse.

I could pull the keyboard forward to the edge, but then I'd be far from the monitor. If all my cables were longer, I suppose I could pull the whole rig out to the corner, leaving a big space behind it. But it doesn't really fix the problem, which is...

3. Corner configurations just aren't ideal. You end up reaching forward for the keyboard/mouse, which not only creates posture problems, but causes you to put more weight on your elbows. In my case, the left elbow is on the desk while the right is usually elevated for mousing. The configuration means you can't help but rest some of your wrist or arm on the desk, because it juts out at an angle.

The armrests of your chair should be at about desk level, but this means you can't tuck them underneath the desk. In a corner configuration, that means you might not be able to slide in close enough to comfortably reach the keyboard. Again, that results in leaning forward and propping yourself up.

4. My desk chair was state of the art in 1997, and I've been guarding it fiercely since then. But it may be time to put it out to pasture. The main issue is the arm rests, which are not adjustable. You want them even with the desktop. While it's typical for the elbow to rest on the armrest, you want the forearm horizontal. Mine angles upward slightly, the elbow is bent - the pressure is all on one point, not spread across a flat arm.

A new chair would also offer increased lumbar support and a seat that can be positioned forward or backward. Both would facilitate better posture and less leaning.

5. The wings of this L-shaped desk are barely wide enough to accomodate a CRT monitor anywhere but the corner. They'd be fine for a flat panel monitor, which the ergonomist recommends. The height of these desk sections is apparently adjustable, though I've never seen them set at anything but the standard height, which is geared toward a person of average stature.

6. I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with holes in my elbows, but that's a Vince Carter bobblehead and a Sir John A. Macdonald action figure. Oh, and there's a Ring Wraith working on a foam computer on top of my monitor. Under the cowl: the decapitatated head of Homer Simpson.

So, what's the upshot? Well, according to the written report, it's nothing that a new desk, monitor and chair wouldn't fix....

Actually, it isn't that bad. Altering the desktop height is free, and I may be moving to a new area in the fall, where new workstations may be configurable to match the employee. My chair and monitor are at the end of their shelf life anyhow.

Of course, it'd be cheaper to just buy me a few new shirts, or force me to wear a hockey elbow pad or something. But to their credit, the CBC seems to take this sort of thing seriously. Having me comfortably chained to my desk for the next three decades is probably worth a few hundred bucks up front.

I hope this case study is of some little help to other people suffering from "internet elbow". The recommended changes don't guarantee hole-free shirts - unless the work changes, you'll still be leaning on one elbow for 8 hours a day. But at least you'll be doing it properly!

Bonus feature: Check out my workstation picture on my Flickr site, to see if you can spot hidden objects including two more action figures, two souvenir mugs, candy and tobacco products, and more!

UPDATE: My workstation has been changed to address most of these issues - check it out here.