| Whether we care to admit it or not we are sitting | | | | use, which is contained in "The Hand Book: |
| on a complete time bomb in terms of potential | | | | Preventing Computer Injury." (Ergonomie;1993). |
| damage through injuries suffered from alleged | | | | "Start with a good chair," Windsor said. "It should |
| mild Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) in the office. | | | | have as much adjustability as possible and be |
| These startling facts came about from a report | | | | easy to" adjust. The chair should not be so long |
| carried out by the National Institute for | | | | that it digs into the back of the legs, and the |
| Occupational Safety and Health who then went on | | | | chair's height should be adjusted so that the feet |
| to allege that 20% of people who work with | | | | can touch the floor without dangling, he said. |
| Computers in the office also suffer from RSI. | | | | To help improve posture, make a simple |
| Millions of dollars each year, the equivalent of the | | | | adjustment to the keyboard. Slip a board, about |
| GDP from a small third world country are spent | | | | three-quarters to one inch thick, beneath the |
| trying to find the cure for these ails and sadly we | | | | lowest side of the keyboard. This provides a |
| don’t appears to be getting very far. | | | | "negative" tilt, taking some strain off the wrists, |
| Sadly we are lacking in complete professional | | | | and "it encourages you to sit up a little straighter," |
| research into this area "What is the scientific basis | | | | Windsor said. |
| for these devices?" asked Russell Windsor, an RSI | | | | "Sufferers of RSI can be aided by the correct |
| Specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in | | | | climate with which to operate from at work." said |
| New York. "There appears to be a woefully little | | | | Edward Rankin, Chief of Orthopaedic surgery at |
| amount of research." | | | | Providence Hospital in Washington and a |
| Before we lay the blame totally at the door of | | | | spokesman for the American College of |
| computers it has to be said the poor posture | | | | Orthopaedic Surgeons. "They could change the |
| brought about by poor work conditions and | | | | desk height, change the seat, and use a foam |
| appalling levels of fitness are also a part, which is | | | | wrist rest." |
| why many experts often prescribe special | | | | However there are certain experts out there |
| exercises to help lessen the effects of long hours | | | | who believe that the best way to treat RSI is |
| at the computer. "Modern day computer users | | | | keep the tendons supple and moving. "Tendons |
| are essentially in all but name office athletes," | | | | that move heal better," Windsor said. "They have |
| Windsor said. "They are making hundreds of | | | | to be able to remain supple." |
| thousands of key strokes." | | | | By limiting how much hands and wrists move, |
| Movements such as these may only be minor but | | | | "you can cause muscles to contract and tendons |
| they carry the same degree of risk. "A shoulder | | | | to shrink," he said. "People end up alleviating some |
| or a thigh can take a great deal more use and | | | | of the pain, but they tend to put added stress on |
| abuse than can a tiny tendon in your hand," said | | | | some of the other muscle groups. You really |
| Stephanie Brown, a concert pianist who is author | | | | want a range of motion. |
| of a method for preventing RSI from computer | | | | |