Prevention Of RSI - 10 Simple Tips

By Paul Goddard

I frequently get calls from people who have been told they have RSI and want to know which mouse would be the best choice for relieving their symptoms. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it was as simple as selecting the right pill to get an instant cure?

RSI or Repetitive Strain Injury is an all encompassing term that covers a multitude of symptoms and conditions, but isn't a diagnosis in itself. It's more of a general term like "sports injury" which could mean a bump on the head or sprained ankle.

When you think about it most ailments will get the default advice of "take 2 paracetemol and stay in bed" regardless of what might be wrong. It seems to be a method for finding out if your own defence systems will deal with the problem if given a couple of days to get on with it and if you don't get better presumably you will come back. It is not uncommon to hear some doctors recommending that the best way to cure Repetitive Strain Injury is to stop repeating the activity that is causing the strain, which results in the injury.

For most of us advice that involves a complete career change that excludes use of a computer is unrealistic so in fact there are only two practical options; avoid getting the problem in the first place, or develop a means of managing it so that you can still work on a computer.

RSI is avoidable, and this is obviously the best plan. As anyone has experienced RSI will tell you, it's painful and has a serious impact on your working life.

The following steps are my suggestions for working on a computer without suffering.

1. Adjust your whole workstation to fit you not the other way around

2. If your equipment is not positioned correctly and you can not adjust it - it is not ergonomic and you will suffer as a result.

3. Start with your posture and invest in a good adjustable chair. It might seem expensive but is less costly than back treatment and much less painful

4. Get your desk to the right height for you - not what your chair will allow. You can do this by inserting small blocks of wood under the feet or saw a bit off its too high (if you share a workspace a height adjustable desk makes life much easier for all)

5. Get a fully adjustable, Goldtouch keyboard. These are quite simply the best, You can read up on why by Googling "Goldtouch keyboard"

6. Get another mouse or even better get two, and keep the one you have. Keep switching between them so that you minimise the repetition. Get different ones, a trackball might feel a bit strange at first but you will get used to it. Vertical mice help a great deal to reduce twisting or pronation in the wrist

7. Get a document holder that can sit over and behind your keyboard. There are lots to choose from, the Microdesk will fit over the Goldtouch and gives lots of space for papers. The key feature is that you want to keep all your work in a straight line head up position

8. Adjust your monitor to the right height and distance. Monitor arms are ideal and easy to use with flat screen monitors. They also free up space on your desk. If you need to use a laptop make sure you have a stand to get the screen to the right height and always use an external keyboard and mouse

9. Use RSI Guard - ALWAYS. You are part of the problem because you think it won't happen to you or you simply can't be bothered. RSI Guard is simple software that can really help you be more aware of how your behaviour is hurting you.

10. Do something now! The whole problem with RSI is that your body will put up with the way you treat it for quite a long time but once it gives up - you are in big trouble, and the road back is painful and slow. Some people never really recover at all. They are the ones who found this stuff to boring to read, don't join them! - 30287

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