Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: ergonomic, health, technology | Themes: Desktop Computers
1. High Tech Hurts
Part 1: Research into how and why technology can hurt our bodies, and the techniques we can use to help us get better. Next: Gadgets and gear to fix it.
Use the phrases “computer” and “repetitive-strain injury” (RSI) in the same sentence and most people will immediately think of carpal tunnel syndrome—for good reason. I’ve had it. My wife has had it. So has her mom, and she needed surgery to correct it. But carpal tunnel syndrome isn’t the only injury related to computer use. I was also facing a fair amount of lower back pain in my early 30s from logging in 10 to 12 hours each day at my desk. This site’s editor, Rachel Rosmarin, suffers from similar neck and back issues. If you don’t know at least one desk jockey with computer-related stress disorders, I’d be shocked.
The problem doesn’t simply exist among writers and editors, either. A 2005 paper by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries offers this:
“The magnitude, cost, and burden of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are enormous. From 1992-2000, there were 380,485 Washington state-accepted workers' compensation state fund claims for nontraumatic soft tissue musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, back, and upper extremity. These claims resulted in $2.9 billion in direct costs and 26.9% of all state fund workers' compensation claims. Of WMSD claims during this time period, 32.4% were compensable with an average of 123 lost time days per compensable claim.”
Admittedly, these general government studies span all industries, from temp help in offices to roofers and chicken butchers, and the state of Washington doesn’t break out which injuries are computer-related. Still, RSIs constitute 62% of all North American workers' compensation claims, and my guess is that the number of hours spent on computers is rising faster than the adoption rate of ergonomic equipment designed to counteract RSIs. It follows that the problem is probably getting worse rather than better.
What’s behind the wide range of soft-tissue injuries that plagues computer users? Many, many, many little things. Nerves get compressed. Blood flow gets constricted to certain areas. Small muscle groups get strained from overlong tension and lack of release. Any or all of these and similar problems can result in small, localized injuries. Taken individually, such “micro-injuries” are no big deal. We get them all the time, and the body simply heals them. But if the pace of repeated injury outstrips the body’s healing capabilities, then the injuries accumulate, passing from annoying to sore to painful to agonizing—and permanent.
- Next page Young and Susceptible
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.