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
Cincinnati sees record rainfall in weekend deluge
July 21, 2026
The Cincinnati Enquirer talks to UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Associate Professor Patrick Ray for context about a July 17 rainstorm that dumped a record amount of rain on parts of Cincinnati.
Putting preschool into perspective
July 20, 2026
Preschool and childcare can be difficult to navigate for parents, as Spectrum News 1 Ohio recently reported. Waitlists are long, and factors like cost, location and transportation can limit options. According to a recent study published by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, only 41% of 3- to 4-year-olds in Ohio were enrolled in preschool between 2020 and 2024 — a 4% decrease from pre-pandemic numbers. For University of Cincinnati early childhood education faculty member Chad Nunamaker, that statistic has caveats.
Ticks that survive pesticides can withstand colder winters
July 17, 2026
Ticks that survive less-than-lethal doses of pesticide are able to withstand dangerous cold, which could help them expand their range farther north, according to researchers at the University of Cincinnati and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.