| The explosive growth of computers and the | | | | with a good chair," Windsor said. "It should |
| home means that more people are being | | | | have as much adjustability as possible and be |
| sidelined with repetitive strain injuries, | | | | easy to" adjust. The chair should not be so |
| although exact numbers are not available. | | | | long that it digs into the back of the legs, |
| According to a three-year study by the | | | | and the chair's height should be adjusted so |
| National Institute for Occupational Safety | | | | that the feet can touch the floor without |
| and Health, about 20 percent of people who | | | | dangling, he said. To help improve posture, |
| work primarily on computers suffer from RSI. | | | | make a simple adjustment to the keyboard. |
| They spend millions of dollars each year | | | | Slip a board, about three-quarters to one |
| searching for ergonomic devices that enable | | | | inch thick, beneath the lowest side of the |
| them to work without pain. "There has been a | | | | keyboard. This provides a "negative" tilt, |
| complete lack of proper and authoritative | | | | taking some strain off the wrists, and "it |
| research" said Russell Windsor, who treats | | | | encourages you to sit up a little |
| people with RSI at the Hospital for Special | | | | straighter," Windsor said. "Sufferers of RSI |
| Surgery in New York. "There has been little | | | | can be aided by the correct climate with |
| actual proper scientific research." But | | | | which to operate from at work." said Edward |
| incorrect seating, poor work regimes and | | | | Rankin, Chief of Orthopaedic surgery at |
| appalling physical fitness can also play a | | | | Providence Hospital in Washington and a |
| role, which is why many experts often | | | | spokesman for the American College of |
| prescribe special exercises to help lessen | | | | Orthopaedic Surgeons. "They could change the |
| the effects of long hours at the computer. | | | | desk height, change the seat, use a foam |
| "People who use computers are essentially | | | | wrist rest." However there are certain |
| upper-body athletes," Windsor said. "They are | | | | experts out there who believe that the best |
| making hundreds of thousands of key strokes." | | | | way to treat RSI is keep the tendons supple |
| While these movements may be small, they | | | | and moving. "Tendons that move heal better," |
| carry the risks and dangers of any athletic | | | | Windsor said. "They have to be able to remain |
| activity. "A shoulder or a thigh can take a | | | | supple." By limiting how much hands and |
| great deal more use and abuse than can a tiny | | | | wrists move, "you can cause muscles to |
| tendon in your hand," said Stephanie Brown, a | | | | contract and tendons to shrink," he said. |
| concert pianist who is author of a method for | | | | "People end up alleviating some of the pain, |
| preventing RSI from computer use, which is | | | | but they tend to put added stress on some of |
| contained in "The Hand Book: Preventing | | | | the other muscle groups. You really want a |
| Computer Injury." (Ergonomie;1993). "Start | | | | range of motion. |