Desk posture glossary: key ergonomics terms explained

A short, plain-language glossary of the terms that come up most often around desk posture and ergonomics — each one defined in a sentence or two, with a link to a fuller article where we've written one.

Posture

The position your body holds, especially the alignment of your spine, shoulders, and head, while sitting, standing, or moving. Full definition and good-vs-bad comparison here.

Ergonomics

The science of designing a workspace to fit the person using it, rather than expecting the person to adapt to the furniture. Posture is about your body's position; ergonomics is about the equipment and setup that makes a good position easy to hold.

Neutral spine

The position where your spine's natural curves are present but not exaggerated, supported by your chair rather than held by constant muscular effort. Why this beats "sitting up straight" rigidly.

Forward head posture

A head position where your ears sit visibly in front of your shoulders, usually from hours of leaning toward a screen. More on causes and fixes.

Protracted shoulders

Shoulder blades pulled forward and spread apart from the spine, rather than resting flat against the upper back — the rounded-shoulder look common in desk workers. 8-minute daily fix here.

Kyphosis

Excess forward curvature of the upper spine. A mild, muscular version from years of screen use is different from a structural, bone-related version — see our breakdown of dowager's hump.

Lumbar support

Support for the inward curve of your lower back, either built into a chair or added as a cushion, that keeps your lower spine from collapsing into a slouch over a long sitting session.

Static loading

The strain that builds from holding one position, even a good one, without variation for an extended period — the reason changing position matters as much as the position itself.

Ulnar deviation

A wrist angled sideways toward the pinky while typing, which narrows the carpal tunnel and contributes to wrist pain. Full guide to wrist pain from typing.

Gluteal amnesia (dead butt syndrome)

Weakened, slow-to-activate glute muscles from hours of sitting on them, often showing up as hip or lower back pain rather than buttock pain itself. More on causes and fixes.

Sit-stand desk

A desk that adjusts between sitting and standing height, meant to reduce total uninterrupted sitting time rather than replace sitting entirely. Common setup mistakes to avoid.

The 20-20-20 rule

Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds — the standard recommendation for reducing digital eye strain. Full eye-strain relief guide.

Computer vision syndrome

The clinical term for the cluster of symptoms — dryness, blurring, headaches — caused by extended screen use, usually addressed with the 20-20-20 rule and screen adjustments.