Ergonomics for Gamers

The Best Ergonomic Sim Racing Chair for Gaming or Home Office Use

Be Comfortable For Hours Gaming or Working

There’s no doubt that being hunched over a keyboard all day long gaming or working is not good for you. From neck and back pain to wrist injuries and what has become known as “Nintendinitis,” repetitive actions like pressing buttons, fingers curled in, mouse movements and clicks, as well as circulatory issues and even spinal damage, can creep in and cause major problems. Poor ergonomics can do more than cause physical harm — they can also cause you to lose games or days at work.

Obutto makes the best ergonomic sim race car cockpits in the business. Everything about our cockpits, from the distance of the screen to the position of your body in the chair is designed with ergonomics in mind. Since 2006, we’ve been improving our ergonomic gaming chairs that are also great ergonomic workstations to be the best in the industry. If you’re tired of the aches and pains after a long day of gaming or work, try our ultimate ergonomic workstation and gaming chairs today!

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BENEFITS OF ERGONOMICS FOR GAMERS

Improves your productivity by eliminating constant shifting to and fro to get comfortable
Minimizes back and neck pain
Can play longer with less interruptions
Improves your posture
Improves your circulation
Improves your concentration
Improves your energy levels
Reduces repetitive motion injury
Reduces eye strain
You’ll win more games
And so much more!

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Why Ergonomics Matter

There’s no doubt that the gaming industry is growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, the video game industry is projected to reach over $300 billion by 2025. And with 2.5 billion gamers around the world, there seems to be no end in sight to enthusiasts who love this sport (known as esports), either played recreationally or on a competitive level.

However, with the rise in esports and gaming, people are now sitting for much longer periods of time, even from a mere 20 years ago. The average American adult now sits for about 6 ½ hours a day, which is up one hour from 2007. For teenagers, that number is close to eight hours a day. Sitting for long stretches of time leads to many physical problems, such as weaker muscles and bones, higher propensity to gain weight, musculoskeletal problems, a decreased immune system, lack of blood circulation, and the list goes on.

The same statistics hold true for workers around the world with the normal office worker sitting for on average 15 hours every day! Suffice it to say that our inactivity may be slowly killing you. While no one wants to go back in time 200 years where the majority of the population toiled in the fields from sunup to sundown and died at a young age because of it, a solution must be found somewhere.

Getting Comfortable With Obutto

One possible solution lies in ergonomic workstations and gaming chairs, such as those offered by Obutto. Ergonomics (from the Greek words “ergon,” which means work and “nomoi,” which means natural laws, studies people in their work environment. In essence, ergonomics studies how humans interact with their computer workstation and gaming cockpits. Proper ergonomics means you are comfortable in your environment. Thus, you are in a supportive seated position, your desk is the right height for you. Your keyboard and mouse cause no hand or wrist strain. You have no eye strain, nor do you experience back or neck strain. When these criteria are missing, that’s where physical problems can arise.

Obutto offers the best ergonomic workstations for gamers and workers. Designed to ensure you are properly supported, you have no eye strain, your hands and wrists are properly aligned, and your feet are comfortable, our ergonomic gaming setup will keep you physically safe while enjoying your favorite activities or while working. Below, we’ll examine some common complaints amongst gamers and workers, and then we’ll discuss how our ergonomic workstations offer a solution. Contact us today to learn more!

COMMON COMPLAINTS AMONGST GAMERS AND WORKERS

Headaches and Memory Loss

Believe it or not, but sitting for long periods of time can affect how your brain functions. The human brain is an organ, and like all organs in the body, it needs a constant supply of blood and oxygen in order to function properly. Movement helps facilitate the movement of blood. Your heart naturally pumps harder, and it’s easier when your body is moving to move blood around. This keeps a steady supply of oxygen to your brain to keep it performing optimally. When you sit for long periods of time gaming or working, you can suffer from cognition recognition and depression or anxiety.

Neck Pain

While you are sitting, if your workstation or gaming cockpit is not set up ergonomically, you can find yourself craning your neck in odd positions. At the time, you probably don’t realize it, but you will definitely feel it in the morning after you sleep. Cell phones are even worse since people tend to hold phones in their hands and then look down. This can put unnatural strain on your vertebrae, which can lead to aches, pain, strains, and poor posture down the road.

Shoulders

Your shoulders can easily slouch while you are sitting at a desk or in a gaming chair not designed with ergonomics in mind, such as Obutto’s ultimate ergonomic workstation and gaming chairs. Slouching puts a lot of stress on your shoulders, which can cause your trapezius muscles to pinch together, causing tension and pain. Having your arms extended for typing and for driving can contribute to shoulder pain as well. As your shoulders sag, your head leans too far forward, which means your neck and back muscles have to work harder to compensate for this. Slouching also compresses your ribs, causing you to breathe shallower, depleting your body of oxygen, building up lactic acid in your muscles, and causing you to tire quickly — and the blood flow to your legs slows down.

Back

Having back pains from sitting too long while gaming or working is the most popular complaint. Most of this is caused by having poor posture, which can be fixed easily with the best ergonomic workstation offered by Obutto for gamers and workers. Furthermore, sitting for long periods of time can lead to the premature degeneration of discs, an increased risk for a herniated disc. Collagen around your ligaments and tendons can harden as well due to inactivity, further contributing to disc injuries.

If you catch yourself shifting your weight a lot while sitting, your pelvic bone can experience inflammation known as bursitis. Your spine could become inactive and inflexible as well because it’s not being moved around, which can cause an increased propensity to be injured.

Abdomen

If you sit for a good portion of the day, you are burning less calories than if you were standing or active. This can lead to weight gain, which tends to accumulate along your stomach and back due to your lack of flexing. Also, when you slouch, your belly sticks out, which can make you appear not as thin as you normally are. Sitting with a straight back with engaged abdominal muscles can help pull in these muscles, tighten your stomach, and help with weight loss.

Hips

Sitting all day can cause your hip flexors to shrink, which causes them to shorten over time. This results in decreased strength and can cause a loss of mobility, which can lead to an increased risk of falls as you age. Many people require hip replacement surgery, and lack of mobility can be a contributing factor. Sitting with your feet properly aligned, such as with an ergonomic gaming setup that Obutto offers, will not only help align your feet, but it will help align your pelvis as well. Avoid sitting with your legs crossed, and definitely do not sit for extended periods of time on your wallet.

Glutes & Leg Muscles

Probably the part of your body that suffers the most from lack of blood circulation caused by sitting is your legs. This is because your body has to work against gravity to push your blood back up to your heart in order for it to pick up oxygen and nutrients that your body’s cells need. By sitting for long stretches of time, your body has to work harder than normal and some blood can pool in your legs, which can then cause varicose veins or even deep vein thrombosis. Furthermore, the muscles in your legs are the most powerful muscles. They are meant to be used. When you don’t use them, they are at risk of atrophy, or wasting away and weakening.

Bones

As you age, you naturally lose bone mass and density, as well as vital nutrients for health, such as calcium and other minerals. Weaker bones, they are at more of a risk for fractures and osteoporosis. One way to fend off the weakening of your bones and the loss of bone mass is through weight-bearing exercises, as well as by moving around.

Eye Strain

Staring at a screen all day long, every day is not good for you. Humans were not designed to do so. Thus, eye strain is a common complaint amongst gamers and workers. Eye strain can cause vision problems, such as blurred vision and nearsightedness, headaches, insomnia, dry eyes, and even depression.

THE SOLUTION: AN ERGONOMIC GAMING SETUP

As the effects of sitting takes its toll, more people are realizing that while they may not be able to change their job, they can change the way they go about their job, which is by investing in the ultimate ergonomic workstation by Obutto. Let’s take a closer look at the particular way our race car ergonomic cockpit and workstation can help you. Order yours today!

The Chair

Let’s start with the most important piece of a top-notch ergonomic gaming setup: the chair. We use a real race car sports seat that is fully adjustable and reclinable. It puts you in a semi-reclined position, which takes the pressure off your spine and helps to redistribute it throughout the rest of your body. You can adjust this ergonomic chair to the correct degree and angle for maximum mobility and support. Included is a foot rest, or a pedal tray, that is fully adjustable for your feet.

When you invest in a high-quality gaming chair that is ergonomic for work and play, your posture will improve since your spine will be cushioned, you’ll have better circulation since your feet will be in a more relaxed state, and you’ll notice a reduction in aches and pains since your body will have the proper support with your weight distributed. An ergonomic gaming setup is worth its weight in gold.

The Desk

Next to the chair, the desk is the most important item in terms of ergonomics. You want one that is sturdy, does not wobble as you move while gaming, and that ideally is adjustable. Obutto’s gaming cockpit is made of steel with a 2 mm thick walled tubing. It’s designed to stay in one place while you play or work.

The Monitor

Having the optimal height and distance of your monitor from you is critical. Obutto’s main monitor mount has a fully articulating arm so you can adjust the monitor exactly where you need it to be. The monitor is also the one piece that your posture follows, meaning where your head goes, so too goes your body. If your monitor is too high, you’ll be straining your neck, causing neck problems. If the monitor is too low, you’ll be slouching.

Obutto recommends that the top of the monitor should be at eye level. You don’t want to have to look down or scrunch your neck to see the game or to work. You can either tilt your display to keep your head, neck and shoulders in a safe position, or you can use Obutto’s fully adjustable mounting stand to adjust to the right height.

Glare can be a factor as it can cause major eye strain. Thus, don’t place your monitor directly opposite a window or in front of a window where you’ll be blinded at times. Plus, you’ll want to make sure your computer monitor(s) are the right distance away from you as well, and the larger the screen, the better for viewing (between 27″ to 32″).

The Keyboard

There are many great keyboards out there made just for gamers and those who spend long hours at their computers for comfort. Opt for one with responsive switches and great clicks and clacks for optimal speed. Split keyboards are excellent choices as well since they are designed for your wrist’s natural curves, and they provide excellent support.

The keyboard trays on Obutto’s ergonomic race car cockpits swivel on a telescoping tray. This tray is fully adjustable so you can place it where it is most comfortable for you. Keyboard trays help to put your wrists in the ideal position in order to minimize wrist-related issues. Experts recommend you try to keep your wrists straight and opt for wrist rests.

The Mouse

Your average mouse is made for minimal use and doesn’t feature much at all. However, for gamers and workers who use their mouse a lot, you’ll want to choose one with an ergonomic grip that takes into consideration the curve of your hand and how it rests on a mouse. There are special gaming mice that have rubber side grips, extremely responsive switches, and extra buttons so you’re not moving your hand a lot while playing. You can also customize the mouse’s movement as well.

The Headset

Headsets are last on our list because, while not absolutely necessary, they can help prevent you from inadvertently having your neck craned or in the wrong position, especially if you talk on the phone a lot of the time. Plus, they are just nice to have while gaming and can overall give you a more relaxed time playing.

THE BENEFITS OF AN ERGONOMIC GAMING SETUP

We mentioned this briefly above, but we wanted to expand on the many benefits of having an ergonomic gaming setup for work and play.

As you can see, investing in an ergonomic workstation is a must for longevity of your health. You will experience fewer headaches and reduced lower back pain and tension in your neck and shoulders. You’ll have more energy, feel less tired, and have improved core strength and circulation.

One of the best benefits of an ergonomic workstation and an ergonomic gaming chair is you’ll have improved concentration, which is necessary especially if you are competing in esports. This is because when you are uncomfortable, you get distracted easily as you subconsciously try to get comfortable. Some research suggests that poor posture also impacts your mood and brain function, altering your hormone levels and causing you more stress.

By correcting your posture and the effects sitting all day has on your body, you’ll feel better about yourself, be a happier person, and look better as well. When you take care of your body, your self-confidence will boost, and you’ll get more promotions at work and win more games in competitions. Overall, it’s the smart thing to do.

CHOOSE OBUTTO’S ERGONOMIC WORKSTATION

Obutto offers the best racing simulator cockpit in the industry. Since 2006 our sim racing rig has taken the industry by storm with our

For almost 15 years, Obutto has been designing, refining, and innovating ergonomic workstations to help alleviate some of the physical problems that come with the nature of desk jobs and of gaming. Short from quitting your job and giving up gaming (and who wants to do that?), the next best solution is putting your body in the optimal position for comfort and less pain. Our ergonomic workstation is the best in the industry, enabling you to sit for long periods of time, either working or playing, with the best support.

Our r3volution ergonomic sim racing chair is compact, so perfect for taking up a small corner of your room or office. It comes with a cup holder, so you can have your morning (and afternoon) cup of coffee nearby. It has hidden wire management so you don’t have to see or be tripped by unsightly computer cords. Our ergonomic workstation has a self-adhesive mouse pad and separate monitor stands for extra screens that are fully adjustable. There’s nothing we haven’t thought of when it comes to ergonomics for gamers. Visit our website, and order this ergonomic gaming setup today!