Get Your Body Healthy

People often tell me that they have RSI (repetitive strain injury) and want to know which mouse I\’d recommend to relieve their systems. I only wish that things were this simple to get an instant cure.

RSI or Repetitive Strain Injury is a general term that covers a multitude of conditions in the same way that a \”sports injury\” is used to describe a bump on the head or a twisted ankle.

So whilst I\’d like to say \”take this pill and call me in the morning\”, this won\’t solve the problem. Many doctors will recommend that you stop repeating the activity, that is causing the strain and ultimately resulting in the injury.

For most of us advice that involves a complete career change that excludes use of a computer is unrealistic so in fact there are only two practical options; avoid getting the problem in the first place, or develop a means of managing it so that you can still work on a computer.

RSI is avoidable, and this is obviously the best plan. As anyone has experienced RSI will tell you, it\’s painful and has a serious impact on your working life.

Here are some tips for avoidance of RSIs that will help you continue to work at your computer without suffering. These also apply if you already have an RSI but be prepared to work at it even harder to get results.

1. Adjust your whole workstation and environment to suit you.

2. If your equipment is not positioned correctly and you can not adjust it – it is not ergonomic and you will suffer as a result.

3. Start with your posture and invest in a good adjustable chair. It might seem expensive but is less costly than back treatment and much less painful

4. Adjust your desk to the most suitable height for your own comfort. This is not the same thing as what your chair will allow. You can do this by placing wooden blocks under the feet or cutting it down if its too high. Height adjustable desks are probably an easier option.

5. Get a Goldtouch fully adjustable keyboard. Nothing else comes close.

6. Get several different mice and pointing devices in addition to the one you have. Alternate between them in order to minimise the repetition. A trackball may feel awkward to use at first but you will get used to it. Vertical mice reduce twisting or pronation in the wrist

7. Get a document holder and position it over and behind your keyboard. The key feature is that you want to keep all your work in a straight line head up position

8. Place your monitor at eyelevel and at a reasonable distance. Monitor arms are excellent for this and also free up space on your desk. If you use a laptop screen make sure you position it the right height and always use an external keyboard and mouse.

9. Use RSI Guard Software – ALWAYS. RSI Guard is simple software that will help you build awareness of how your behaviour is hurting you and enable you to consciously prevent RSI.

10. Make changes now. Your body can handle a lot of abuse, but when it gives up – you are in big trouble, and the road back is painful and slow. Some people never recover.

Paul Goddard is an Education Officer at Keytools and a well known RSI expert. He claims that RSI problems are easily preventable and his company, Keytools provides assistive technology for people with RSI including the RSIGuide software for prevention of RSI

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Tags: Arthritis, disability, fitness, health, healthcare, Repetitive Strain Injury, RSI, work related injuries