Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Microscope neck

Posted by Susan R Walter on 27-03-2006 13:12
#1

Does anyone have any tips for coping with microscope neck? Should we start up a charitable fund in order to employ a team of peripatetic masseurs who could visit anyone who has had a hard day at the microscope?:)

Posted by totipotent on 29-03-2006 04:40
#2

I find that it helps if your chair's height places you vertically in line with the eyepieces. If you are sitting higher and have to bend over to view the scope then you are stressing your back out. You want to be able to just move forward a little and have the eyepiece in your face while sitting up right.

Sadly I cannot do this in my lab space because all of the chairs are pretty old and don't have the vertical adjustment feature on them. I have been spending five hours blocks looking at soil samples for Nematoceran immatures the last week.
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I finally found some Ceratopogonid pupae today!!!

Posted by Susan R Walter on 30-03-2006 15:38
#3

I know you are right - I was just angling for sympathy.:) But it looks like you are the one who needs the sympathy, really!

Posted by Andy Chick on 07-12-2007 11:10
#4

i know this is an old post but i found this article and thought it might help
http://www.micros...stand.html

Posted by Susan R Walter on 08-12-2007 18:41
#5

Thanks Andy - looks useful, although I seem to have sorted my problem for the time being by using a different chair.

Posted by ChrisR on 09-12-2007 10:19
#6

Never had "microscope neck" :D I find a decent gas-lift chair for me and a Yellow-Pages under the microscope helps line everything up comfortably. I also lean on one of those thick gel strips that they sell for computer users - stops me getting "microscope elbow" ;)