Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: ergonomic, health, technology | Themes: Desktop Computers
2. Young and Susceptible
Students tend to have the advantages of younger, more resilient bodies and spend less total time at a keyboard, but they’re definitely not immune from repetitive stress dangers. Apart from the many hours logged in for regular studies, there are also the dangers of gaming. I remember the inevitable hand cramping that came from hours of play on my old Atari 2600 console. More recently, the joints in my left fingers went through about two weeks of considerable pain after getting my Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller for Xbox 360. This was my first foray into the ultra-addictive world of Guitar Hero, and I found myself mashing the neck buttons so hard and for so long, day after day, that I had to stop playing after about a week. (In time, I adapted to the controller, learned to moderate my pressing strength, and limited my playtime to less than an hour. Ever since, the pain has not returned.)
The problem is increasingly epidemic. Do a search for “Wiiitis” or “Wiitis” to learn about widespread tendonitis brought on by excessive Wii playing. “'PlayStation palmar hidradenitis” is a painful skin condition brought on by excessive, tight gripping of a gamepad’s hand grips. You can guess what “texter’s thumb” is all about. The list goes on.
The first study of computer-related musculoskeletal dysfunction (MSD) among children and adolescents was published in 2007 by Leoné Smith at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. This is an excellent and exhaustive look at the subject, and it also discusses a dozen prior related studies. The chart below gives you a sense of the whole-body impact of MSDs that these other authors found.
In a nutshell, Smith’s conclusions based on studying over 1,000 students ranging from ages 14 to 18 was that computer use could and did have a negative physical impact on learners. “More than seven hours of weekly computer exposure was predictive for neck pain and left wrist pain among girls and left and right shoulder pain among boys. Thirty-one percent and 29%, respectively, of learners indicated that they have stopped playing sports and working on the computer due to musculoskeletal dysfunction. . . . Musculoskeletal pain experienced during adolescence is the single most important predictor of chronic musculoskeletal pain during adulthood. . . . An even more worrisome phenomenon is that 23% to 48% of learners reported being absent from school due to their musculoskeletal complaints.”
Despite high-tech RSIs having been with us for two decades and impacting every age group, the public remains largely unaware of the causes, risks, and remedies. RSIs can destroy your productivity, but, more importantly, they can ruin your ability to enjoy life. As with so many things, until you’ve had an RSI, the matter seems like “somebody else’s problem.” But the statistics are hard to deny. Most of us have ergonomically poor computing environments, and most of us tend to increase computer usage over time. Without corrective action, a future filled with pain looks increasingly likely, especially if you’re approaching middle age or beyond.
Fortunately, we have a lot of suggestions on how you can remedy the pain problem right now.
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I've been using an ergonomic keyboard and mouse pretty much as long as I've been using computers and have never had hand pains, so ergonomic things do work... if you let them. Changing equipment alone often isn't enough to completely offset RSIs. You need to relax your grip on the mouse a bit and improve your posture as well. Keeping your wrists off the desk is a small thing and an easy habit to get into - but it goes a long way.
Great read, lots of good stuff that I've been pondering recently. One interesting point is that while the ideal method of keeping your body in check when long-term computing is to get up every our and stretch. But who really does that, especially on a crunch? Heck, I don't even do that for gaming!
One other thing: for the guitar, I never found my hands hurt from the constant simultaneous movement, and I can play just about every song on Expert level. If anything, that exercise strengthened my left hand significantly, to where it's more adept at certain things than my right hand. My finger movements are even different, and I'm right handed!
That said, just this last week I was diagnosed with overused muscles in my right wrist due to too much gaming and computer time. My right hand is in constant pain from it, and while I have games to review and articles to write (one of which I should be doing now for TG), even pinching hurts because of this overuse. My doctor said I should have my hand in a splinter and my arm in a sling, but there's no typing or gaming in such conditions.
And with the holidays around the corner...well, sometime this week my health will become a bigger priority than my work. And I'm not the only one with such predicaments.
I've also used an MS natural keyboard ever since I bought my first computer. 20 years ago I took a computer class and was using the straight normal keyboard and right away felt my wrists lock up. 5 years after, I buy my first computer and the natural keyboard with it. Good bye pain.
I have Carpol Tunnel Syndrome and pinched nerves in my neck. Definately a good idea to be precautious and take care of yourself. Though I find the prescriptions interesting.
would like to share with you a very unique keyboard from A4Tech
they have some special keyboards with the keys cut into an "A" shape.
It really gives a relaxing feeling when typing, can't describe it.
would be nice to see some of em' in one of tom's reviews.
"Then your body replaces that with stronger, more flexible tissue."
Are you serious?!? That's why atheletes who snap tendons come back and play better than ever (SARCASM!)
I appreciate the section on ergonomics - they're very important and basic measures go a long way to decrease injuries - but I draw the line with chiropractors.
The good "doctor" on his website believes his back manipulation will fix your bacterial ear infection or that back manipulation will fix your asthma. Some of my favourites:
http://www.quackwatch.com/search/w [...] iropractor
Hope that the author got a decent back-rub for linking Brian Rueben's website.
Correction: Leonie Smith and the University of Stellenbosch is in South Africa, not New Zealand. This is also clearly visible from the thesis PDF.
I've got some pretty nasty nerve damage from playing games in terrible positions. Mostly, I use to lean on my elbows. Unfortunately my ulnar nerve has been damaged from years of incorrect resting. Now my fingers don't work so well, I get a lot of strange pains and I can't play computers games or play the guitar anymore.
My advice: Don't rest on your elbows anymore! Armchairs with elbow rest are evil, terrible things. Be careful.
A very good summary of RSI and the dangers of technology. As a long term RSI sufferer (13+ years now) I can vouch for the pain that this condition causes. I literally had to give up my career in CAD/engineering because of an RSI condition. We are literally going to see (are seeing?) an epidemic of RSI conditions break out unless we get the message about the dangers of RSI out there. This article is a step in the right direction. Its about time that the general public is made aware of the dangers of not just computer use, but all high tech gadgetry use/overuse. With the younger generation having been brought up with technology as part of their lives from a very early stage, we could be looking at a wide variety of injuries at a much younger age in the future.
With regards to wrist angle at a keyboard, please refer to my articles on the subject on my RSI website -
Forearm extensors and wrist angle -
http://www.ergomatters.co.uk/blog/ [...] n-and-rsi/
Lateral wrist deviation and RSI -
http://www.ergomatters.co.uk/blog/ [...] e-and-rsi/
Correction: Leonie Smith and the University of Stellenbosch is in South Africa, not New Zealand. This is also clearly visible from the thesis PDF.
Fixed. Thanks for the heads-up!
I've been using all manner of keyboards, from the Acorn Electron all the way up to a standard laptop keyboard and mouse. No problem. No RSI.
I'm in I.T. so do use them ALL the darn time
Try not to give people something to moan about.
I agree with "Anonymous 11/03/2009 2:49 AM"
The section on ergonomics is good and it is important to look at your work environment and its potential affect on your body, but I too draw the line with chiropractors. You can do your own research, but a reasonable summary is the Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiro [...] ence_basis
It is far from a proven science and not something I would glibly recommend as a solution to the ergonomics problem...
I've been using all manner of keyboards, from the Acorn Electron all the way up to a standard laptop keyboard and mouse. No problem. No RSI.I'm in I.T. so do use them ALL the darn timeTry not to give people something to moan about.
I've known a lot of people with cancer. Never had it myself, though...yet.
I've known a lot of people with cancer. Never had it myself, though...yet.
Just because we've been lucky enough not to have had an ailment outselves doesn't mean it isn't real for others or that we can't take prudent action to avoid contracting the problem in the future.