| The explosive growth of computers and the | | | | Hand Book: Preventing Computer Injury." |
| home means that more people are being sidelined | | | | (Ergonomie;1993). |
| with repetitive strain injuries, although exact | | | | "Start with a good chair," Windsor said. "It should |
| numbers are not available. These startling facts | | | | have as much adjustability as possible and be |
| came about from a report carried out by the | | | | easy to" adjust. The chair should not be so long |
| National Institute for Occupational Safety and | | | | that it digs into the back of the legs, and the |
| Health who then went on to allege that 20% of | | | | chair's height should be adjusted so that the feet |
| people who work with Computers in the office | | | | can touch the floor without dangling, he said. |
| 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 has been little actual proper | | | | Edward Rankin, Chief of Orthopaedic surgery at |
| scientific research. |There appears to be a | | | | Providence Hospital in Washington and a |
| woefully little amount of research.}" | | | | spokesman for the American College of |
| But incorrect seating, poor work regimes and | | | | Orthopaedic Surgeons. "They could change the |
| appalling physical fitness can also play a role, which | | | | desk height, change the seat, use a foam wrist |
| is why many experts often prescribe special | | | | rest." |
| exercises to help lessen the effects of long hours | | | | However there are certain experts out there |
| at the computer. "People who use computers are | | | | who believe that the best way to treat RSI is |
| essentially upper-body athletes, " Windsor said. | | | | keep the tendons supple and moving. "Tendons |
| "They are making hundreds of thousands of key | | | | that move heal better," Windsor said. "They have |
| strokes." | | | | to be able to remain supple." |
| While these movements may be small, they carry | | | | By limiting how much hands and wrists move, |
| the risks and dangers of any athletic activity. "A | | | | "you can cause muscles to contract and tendons |
| shoulder or a thigh can take a great deal more | | | | to shrink," he said. "People end up alleviating some |
| use and abuse than can a tiny tendon in your | | | | of the pain, but they tend to put added stress on |
| hand," said Stephanie Brown, a concert pianist | | | | some of the other muscle groups. You really |
| who is author of a method for preventing RSI | | | | want a range of motion. |
| from computer use, which is contained in "The | | | | |