Are These “Ergonomic” Products Scamming You?

Unlike the labeling of organic foods, which is regulated by the US Department of Agriculture, the use of “ergonomic” as a label on consumer products is unregulated by any governing body or program.

You could sell ergonomic toilet paper if you wanted.

Ergonomics is defined as:

An applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely.
The design characteristics of an object resulting especially from the application of the science of ergonomics.

It’s a pretty loose definitely that makes it easy to slap the “ergonomic” label on pretty much any consumer product as an added selling point.

Ideally, products advertised as being ergonomic would be only those in which human anthropometrics (body measurements) and biomechanics (physics of body movement) were the primary influence in the design of the product.

However, that is not always the case as will be highlighted below.

Disclaimer 1: If you own or have previously purchased any of these products, do not be embarrassed or offended. You put in the effort to do the best for your body with the knowledge you had at the time. If you find benefit from any of the products mentioned below, do not feel the need to discontinue using them. Any conclusions drawn about the items below are based on the averages of human anthropometrics and biomechanics and do not account for personal preferences.

Disclaimer 2: Please note that some products may include affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links, though this will in no way affect the price of the product.

Exercise Ball Chairs

This one has been around for a long time and some people simply replace their chair with a regular exercise ball. While this has been found to be helpful with fidgety children in schools, it’s not the miracle cure for poor posture that it claims to be.

The chair base increases the seat height and allows for easier lateral mobility. The backrest is supposed to provide extra support when needed but is too low to be really effective or increase comfort. Typically, the claim is either that sitting on an exercise ball forces you into a better posture or makes you more aware of your posture so you can keep correcting it.

Those claims are not wrong. However, what is typically not advertised is that the maximum time you should spend sitting on an exercise ball is 15 minutes. After that, you will start to fatigue (resulting in either poor posture or muscle cramping, loss of focus and energy, and even back or neck pain) and you should switch to passive sitting, standing, or just take a walk.

If you have a hard time monitoring your posture while working, an exercise ball can be effective when you establish a routine for regularly swapping back and forth between the ball and your hopefully high-back supportive desk chair.

When considering storage and versatility, it might be easier to simply use a large exercise ball without the chair base so you can store it under your desk when not in use as well as easily pull it out for stretches and exercises.

Wrist-Rest Mousepads

This is an incredibly common item found in offices all over the world. Some people use them because the squishy wrist-rest seems like it will be really comfortable while others are trying to ease their carpal tunnel or general wrist pain.

Ironically, these types of mousepads actually contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome.

As squishy as it might be, by anchoring your wrist on the support you’re both increasing the pressure on your carpal tunnel and isolating every mousing motion to your wrist (an overuse injury just waiting to happen). Proper mousing mechanics should primarily involve both shoulder and elbow movement with minimal wrist movement, avoiding windshield wiper motions from the wrist at all costs.

If you have one of these mousepads, no need to throw it away. Simply turn the wrist support away from you and continue to use it as if it were a normal mousepad.

If you’re struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome or wish to prevent it, this Logitech Vertical Wireless Mouse is an excellent example of a truly ergonomic product that will keep your wrist in a neutral position, forcing you to properly use your shoulder and elbow for mousing.

Quick Tangent: keyboard wrist rests are good, especially for thick keyboards so that your wrists can be straight when your hands are on the keyboard. Since it’s just your fingers moving while you type, it’s okay that your wrists are anchored. Also, avoid a vertical mouse with the rollerball to avoid an overuse injury in your thumb. These are best reserved for those with physical disabilities limiting arm/hand function.

*Back Cushions

This one comes with an * because not all back cushions are bad, but not all of them are good either.

Often, these cushions are far too big for the average person and only end up pushing you forward instead of doing what they’re meant to do, which is fill the natural curve in your lower back.

If your office chair already has built-in lumbar support but you’re still uncomfortable, check out How to Choose an Office Chair for adjustment tips or to determine whether you need a new chair. Adding further lumbar support will only make you more uncomfortable.

If your chair has no lumbar support, then sit all the way back so that your shoulders touch the backrest (if your backrest is too low, you also need to click the link above). The resulting gap between your lower back and the chair is the size you need for a back cushion. A cushion that is too large will make you excessively arch your back and feel like you’re doing a backbend in order to get your shoulders to touch the backrest. Remember, if only your lower back is touching the backrest without your upper back touching, then you are slouching.

Instead of a cushion, try folded hand towels first to get a feel for the size of support you will find the most comfortable. Also, try to opt for an Orthopedic Backrest that extends beyond the main lumbar support to minimize the potential downfalls mentioned above.