What the #$%! is a Monitor "Arm" and Why Do I Need One?

In my previous post, I discussed how the position of your screen affects posture and health (here’s a link to the article in case you missed it). I also mentioned a quick fix involving a stack of books, some reams of paper, or anything else you could use to raise your monitor. In this post, I’ll be discussing longer term solutions (aka: "I'm sick of looking at a pile of stuff I pulled out of the recycling bin"). 

A common solution is the monitor stand: a piece of rectangular plastic supported by four stack-able columns. You know what I’m talking about, it’s like adult office LEGOs where you can add or subtract segments to the columns to raise or lower the platform. A monitor stand is essentially a polished stack of books; it does the exact same thing, but looks better while doing it.

While this is a big step up from your heap of unread textbooks, there are some issues with this type of solution, namely the amount of space it takes up and lack of flexibility. Monitor stands tend to claim around a square foot and a half of desk space. In the correct position where your monitor is pulled in close enough to view comfortably while sitting back, there’s often barely enough room for the keyboard and mouse at the edge of the desk. It doesn’t matter how deep your desk is – a bigger desk just means more empty space behind the monitor stand for a dust bunny banquet.

I find that people tend to get a little claustrophobic when I help them make this adjustment – space is limited and there's nowhere to put their stuff. As soon as they need to write in a notebook, reference a piece of paper while typing, or set down their cup of coffee, people will make room by pushing the monitor stand away from them. And it’s not the easiest thing to move (kind of a tippy operation), so once the monitor stand is pushed back, it tends to stay there for good. Now with the monitor too far away, people naturally hunch forward while working, putting strain on their spines.

Does the illustration above look familiar to you? I would estimate that out of every 10 people I see using a monitor stand, 9 have them pushed too far back. Yikes!

So what is a monitor arm and how is it any different than a monitor stand? Like a human arm, a monitor arm is a structure with several joints, allowing it a wide range of motion. With a good monitor arm, you can adjust it by grabbing your screen and moving it to where you like; the arm will hold it in place (there are many different mechanisms for this, including tension-loaded springs, gas cylinders, rubber cords etc.)

A huge benefit of this flexibility is that you can (and should) reposition your monitor all day long. Depending on what you’re looking at, you’ll need to adjust. Small text? Don’t lean in and strain your neck, pull your monitor closer! Large image? Push your monitor away. Long document? Swivel the screen to portrait mode. Collaborating with a coworker? Turn the screen towards them to share.

Meanwhile, the desk space below remains free and open for as many pieces of paper or coffee cups as you need!

The sum this all up, the thing I love most about ergonomics is that you can always hack a solution together for free; all you need is some creativity and some miscellaneous office items. But, as with anything, the more you invest in a solution, the better it will be. That's certainly the case for monitor supports. Investing in a monitor arm provides not just correct screen positioning, but ease of use, extra desk space, flexibility, and postural variety. It can make the biggest difference in how you feel at the end of the work day.

Thanks for reading!