AARP: How to improve your pandemic posture
UC expert offers tips on monitor positioning and workspace lighting
Working in the pandemic over the last two years has meant developing a space to work at home for most of us. An article published by AARP takes a look at some potential problems that can crop up working at home in the way of pandemic posture habits. Susan Kotowski, PhD, of the Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences in the UC College of Allied Health Sciences, is cited as an expert for the story.
Susan Kotowski, PhD, of the Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences in the UC College of Allied Health Sciences/Photo/Colleen Kelley/UC Creative + Brand
The top edge of your screen should be directly in line with your eye level, Kotowski told AARP. If it’s too low, you’ll hunch over, creating neck pain. If you use dual monitors, put the most-used monitor directly in front of you.
Aging eyes need more light than younger ones. Kotowski recommends task lighting — an individual light, such as a reading or desk lamp, that you can aim at a specific spot.
The article also mentions the importance of setting the correct desk height. With your chair at your work surface, you should be able to comfortably maintain the recommended 90-degree angles. If your desk is too high, add an ergonomic step stool under your desk to rest your feet on. If it’s too low, use furniture risers to raise it.
Lead image/Anuj Shrestha
Next Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is classified as a Research 1 institution by the Carnegie Commission and is ranked in the National Science Foundation's Top-35 public research universities. UC's medical, graduate and undergraduate students and faculty investigate problems and innovate solutions with real-world impact. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
Sugar overload killing hearts
November 10, 2025
Two in five people will be told they have diabetes during their lifetime. And people who have diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease. One of the deadliest dangers? Diabetic cardiomyopathy. But groundbreaking University of Cincinnati research hopes to stop and even reverse the damage before it’s too late.
Is going nuclear the solution to Ohio’s energy costs?
November 10, 2025
The Ohio Capital Journal recently reported that as energy prices continue to climb, economists are weighing the benefits of going nuclear to curb costs. The publication dove into a Scioto Analysis survey of 18 economists to weigh the pros and cons of nuclear energy. One economist featured was Iryna Topolyan, PhD, professor of economics at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business.
App turns smartwatch into detector of structural heart disease
November 10, 2025
An app that uses an AI model to read a single-lead ECG from a smartwatch can detect structural heart disease, researchers reported at the 2025 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association. Although the technology requires further validation, researchers said it could help improve the identification of patients with heart failure, valvular conditions and left ventricular hypertrophy before they become symptomatic, which could improve the prognosis for people with these conditions.