Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about ergonomics, home safety, and inclusive design for your home, work, and community spaces
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FjordErgo is led by Kristin Amlie, a Norwegian physical therapist and American ergonomist. Here are answers to the questions we hear most often. Do not see yours? Reach out, we are happy to help.
Working with FjordErgo
Who do you work with?
FjordErgo works with people in their homes, communities, and businesses—remote and hybrid workers; older adults aging in place; people living with pain, disability, or chronic conditions; and community partners such as clinics, libraries, and senior housing. Many clients start with a computer workstation or home office evaluation and then expand to other rooms or longer-term planning.
What kinds of spaces do you help with?
We work with diverse settings, such as homes, home offices, workplaces, clinics, libraries, community and cultural spaces, outdoor areas, vehicles, and travel setups. Projects range from a single workstation to full buildings and renovations, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior ADUs (JADUs), senior housing, and large community environments.
The common thread: we look at how people actually live, move, and work—and shape every space to work better for the people who use it.
What does a typical project or visit look like?
Most projects start with a brief call or email to understand your goals and your space. We then review your home or workspace—onsite or virtually—to spot risks and opportunities and talk through practical solutions. You receive specific, prioritized recommendations you can act on right away, plus ideas for the future.
Where do you work, and do you offer virtual and in-person services?
FjordErgo offers both virtual and in-person services. Virtual consultations are effective for a wide range of work—workstation reviews, home walkthroughs, design guidance, product comparisons, and planning conversations—and many clients find them efficient and convenient.
In-person visits are available throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including in Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties. We provide regular service in San Francisco, the East Bay, and the North Bay—including San Rafael, Berkeley, Oakland, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Novato, and surrounding areas. We have also worked with clients in Oregon, Texas, Norway, and across the US and internationally.
Virtual consultations are available across California and beyond. We will work with you to recommend the approach that fits your situation best.
Do you work with my family, caregivers, or team?
Yes. Many projects involve family members, caregivers, or colleagues. With your permission, we collaborate with the people who support you so everyone understands the plan and feels confident putting it into practice. For organizations, we also work alongside safety teams, risk managers, and department leads.
Can you help me plan for an aging parent or family member?
Yes. Many clients come to FjordErgo on behalf of a parent or older family member. We assess their home for ergonomics, safety, and fall risk—and recommend practical changes and home modifications that support their independence and fit their home, their style, and their life.
We can also help you plan ahead and have informed conversations about future needs before a crisis makes decisions harder.
Can you coordinate with my doctor or therapist?
Yes. With your permission, we can share recommendations and coordinate with your physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other health and wellness practitioners so ergonomic and design decisions align with your care and treatment goals.
Can you work with my architect, designer, or contractor?
Yes. Earlier involvement produces the best outcomes—it is easier to build ergonomic and inclusive design into a project from the start. This includes new construction, where early collaboration allows these principles to be built in from the ground up.
We can also collaborate at any stage of a home modification, renovation, or larger facility project. Kristin brings direct experience working on design projects across residential, healthcare, workplace, and community environments—from concept and planning through construction and installation.
How do I get started?
Complete the contact form with a few details about your space, your routines, and what you would like to improve. We will follow up with next steps and, if helpful, suggest a brief introductory conversation before we get started.
Services & Pricing
What services does FjordErgo offer?
Services include:
- Ergonomic evaluations for home offices and workplaces
- Aging-in-place and home safety assessments
- Home modification planning
- Design and equipment guidance
- Consulting with individuals and organizations on ergonomics, inclusive spaces, and universal design
Every project is tailored—we start with your goals and recommend only what truly fits.
Can you improve my computer workstation or home office ergonomics?
Yes. Computer workstation and home office ergonomics are among our most requested services. We evaluate your chair, desk, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and accessories—and recommend adjustments and equipment that fit your body and your tasks. The goal is less neck, back, shoulder, and wrist pain, and more energy and focus throughout your workday—whether you work at home, in an office, or both.
Can you help me choose furniture, equipment, a vehicle, or a home?
FjordErgo helps you make confident choices about chairs, desks, mattresses, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, gardening tools, and other home and workplace equipment.
We also assist with ergonomic car fit and vehicle comparisons—so your driving position, visibility, and controls work well for your body and needs.
Whether you are buying a home or considering a move, we can help you know what to look for and evaluate whether a space will support you well now and in the years ahead.
Can you help with my Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or Junior ADU (JADU)?
Yes. ADUs and JADUs are an excellent opportunity to build ergonomics, universal design, and inclusive principles in from the start.
We also work with existing units—retrofitting them for aging in place, multi-generational living, or use by people with diverse needs. Early involvement gives you the most options and can help you avoid costly changes later.
Do you work with organizations and community partners?
Yes. Organizations come to FjordErgo to make their workplaces and facilities safer, more inclusive, and better suited to the people who use them.
Services include:
- Ergonomics evaluations and sweeps
- New construction and renovation consulting
- Staff, leadership, and train-the-trainer training
- Ergonomics-informed furniture, design, and equipment standards
We work across administrative, healthcare, research, customer service, and material handling environments—helping reduce injury risk and workers’ compensation claims, supporting return-to-work efforts, and creating spaces where diverse teams can perform at their best.
How much do your services cost, and do you offer packages?
Fees vary based on the type of service, project scope, and how much support you need. Options include single sessions, project-based work, ongoing support, and nonprofit rates.
Some clients prefer a focused one-time session; others work with us over months or years as their space or health changes. Share a few details, and we will provide a clear estimate before you decide.
Your Health & Space
What makes FjordErgo's approach different?
FjordErgo integrates clinical expertise, ergonomics science, and universal and inclusive design in a single practice. This breadth—centered on the whole person, the built environment, and inclusive design—shapes every recommendation.
Kristin Amlie founded FjordErgo to bring this expertise together. She is a licensed Norwegian physical therapist and American ergonomist and a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) with more than 20 years of clinical and consulting experience. Kristin built FjordErgo on a direct understanding of how bodies move—and how people recover, adapt, and change across every stage of life. This includes experience with chronic pain, medical conditions, disability, neurodiversity, and aging. Her ergonomics expertise connects that clinical knowledge to the fit between people and their environments, tools, and tasks—so spaces and systems are designed to support the body and mind.
FjordErgo’s approach draws on Scandinavian universal design values—clarity, function, and planning for every stage of life from the start—as well as assistive technology expertise and inclusive design principles. The result is practical, evidence-based support built around long-term wellbeing and independence for every client.
What is ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the science of fitting environments, tools, and tasks to the person—so daily activities feel more comfortable, efficient, and sustainable over time. We use evidence-based methods that account for body dimensions, physical and cognitive capabilities, and the specific demands of your tasks and environment.
Good ergonomics reduces pain and fatigue, prevents new problems from developing, and supports long-term wellbeing. A comprehensive ergonomics assessment also considers environmental and psychosocial factors—such as noise, lighting, and workload—because these directly affect health, focus, comfort, and performance.
How do universal design and inclusive design improve everyday life?
Universal and inclusive design create spaces that work well for people of different ages, sizes, and abilities—by design, not by special accommodation. FjordErgo applies these principles where they add real value: home renovations, ADUs, workplaces, community spaces, and new construction. The result is spaces that are comfortable, adaptable, and future-ready for everyone who uses them now and in the years ahead.
What is aging in place, and how does FjordErgo support it?
Aging in place means staying safely and comfortably in your own home and community as your needs change over time. FjordErgo combines ergonomics, home safety assessments, and universal and inclusive design to reduce fall risk, support everyday activities, and preserve independence, personal style, and familiarity. Our goal is to help you plan ahead so your home supports your health, safety, and longevity.
Can you help with home safety and fall prevention?
Yes. A home safety assessment covers fall risks, mobility, lighting, bathroom and entry safety, kitchen and living areas, and more. FjordErgo recommends home modifications and equipment that support independence and confidence over time. The focus is on changes that fit your personal style, so your home feels safe, comfortable, and familiar—not clinical.
When should I start planning for aging in place?
Earlier than most people think. The best time to plan is before a crisis—when you have time to make thoughtful choices, phase changes over time, and work with your budget. Many clients in their 50s and 60s start with one room or one safety concern and build from there.
Can ergonomics help with musculoskeletal pain, injuries, or chronic conditions?
Yes. Adjustments to how you sit, reach, grip, and move through your space can meaningfully reduce the load on painful joints and tired muscles. This includes conditions such as arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and back pain.
FjordErgo recommends equipment, furniture, layout changes, and movement habits that make daily activities—from desk work and cooking to gardening, driving, and travel—more manageable and less painful.
What if I have pain, a disability, or fatigue that makes everyday tasks hard?
Living with pain, fatigue, or a disability does not mean you have to struggle with your environment—it means your environment needs to work harder for you. FjordErgo can identify practical, evidence-based changes to your home, workspace, or daily routines that reduce strain, increase safety, and make everyday tasks genuinely easier.
Whether you are managing a new diagnosis, recovering from an injury, or planning ahead before limitations develop, we adapt our approach to your energy level, comfort, and goals.