With the prevalence of computers in society, many of us rely on them every day of the week. Computers help us effectively and efficiently do our jobs, communicate with friends and family, and provide us with endless entertainment and knowledge at our fingertips. Although they are indispensable, extensive computer use can cause Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI, which is a condition often caused by frequent and recurrent activities. RSI commonly affects upper parts of the body, such as wrists, elbows, hands, forearms, back, and neck. The symptoms of RSI include but are not limited to numbness, tingling, burning, pain, or swelling of the aforementioned areas. Luckily, RSI is preventable; there are specific precautions you can take to minimize your chance of acquiring this disorder.
Many computer users are using the keyboard and mouse that came with the computer. These devices are usually designed and manufactured with price in mind, not comfort and ergonomics. Consequently, they can cause discomfort and contribute toRSI if used often enough. One solution is to replace them with various products on the market designed specifically with comfort and ergonomics in mind such as the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard and the HandShoe mouse. In addition, most keyboards have retractable height adjustments underneath them (such as keyboard ‘ feet ‘ ), which can strain your wrists if they angle the keyboard too steeply. By flattening the keyboard, and positioning it and the mouse at or below elbow height a more natural and comfortable stance is achieved.
Your workspace and computer layout is an equally important part of preventing RSI and should not be overlooked. Adjust your chair so that you are sitting up straight, not hunched over, and are able to reach the keyboard with your forearms parallel to the floor. Additionally, the height of your chair and monitor should be positioned at eye level while your feet rest flat on the floor and your knees are bent at right angles. These guidelines will promote good posture, and in turn minimize back and neck strain.
Even with the above preventative measures, using your computer for hours on end can still cause RSI, which is why stretching and taking short breaks throughout the day can be just as helpful. Every hour or so try to set aside a few minutes to stand up, walk around, and stretch any muscles that feel tight or numb. It is easy to lose track of time or just forget to do this; however, there are many free programs available to help remind you to take a break such as EyeLeo (EyeLeo.com) and WorkRave (WorkRave.org), which can be downloaded from their website.
Being proactive about preventing RSI by implementing the above recommendations will not take a lot of time or effort and is important for every computer user to practice. If you have any questions about preventing RSI, contact us any time at 866-9MBTECH or email us at support@mhconsults.com.
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