1) Postural problems — you may get used to being hunched over all day. Your shoulders and upper spine my tend to slump forward. To combat this, really work to stand up straight, even doing a slight back bend when you stand up. You should also regularly pull your shoulders back, maybe grasping hands behind your back.

2) Back problems — your back, low back or upper back, may start to hurt. The best thing to do here is to get a good chair, one that works for you. Low back support is usually the most important thing. Also, if you are experiencing back problems, try to stand up and walk around for a minute or so at least once an hour, or even better every half hour.

3) Hand and or wrist problems from typing. To avoid, try to take breaks every now and then, opening and closing your hands, moving your wrists around, that sort of thing.

4) Hand, wrist and/or shoulder problems from the mouse — this is actually a more common source of problems than typing. This is probably the most common computer-specific problem, though it’s often overlooked. To combat this, try to loosen up on the mouse hand, shake it out. If you experience problems from the mouse, consider a track ball.

5) Eye strain, possibly with related headaches. Not much to do about this. Periodically look up from the screen — if you have a window, focus your vision away in the distance as far as you can. This provides a little relief. If experiencing eye strain you should also consider a bigger monitor or at least bigger font size.

6) Neck problems. This is really an extension of back problems mentioned above. Try to keep your head upright, not leaning forward too much. If your neck gets tired, try neck rolls, rolling your head around in a circle, stretching and relaxing your neck muscles.