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Work Day: The RSI Mouse Trap
Prevent and Treat RSI
How to ward off repetitive strain injury in our modern computer culture.
Nowadays, more and more people are faced with repetitive strain injury (RSI) as a result of mouse-related work. Caused by permanent tension, repetitive motions and an unnatural position of the arm, the symptoms range from numbness or tingling in the fingers to a pain extending to the shoulder. It's best to counter initial symptoms before they develop into a full-blown condition, so here are some things you can do to avoid mouse-related pains:
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Give Yourself a Break
Change your position as much as possible and take regular breaks. Get up and walk around if you don't have to be at your desk (e.g., while talking on the phone or reading a printout).
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Pay Attention to Posture
When you sit, keep your back straight and your shoulders pulled back with your pelvis slightly tilted forward. If your muscles start hurting, relax your back and briefly rotate your shoulders. Avoid a hunched-over position.
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Be Ergonomically Correct
Use a mouse that fits your hand and rest your hand when you're not using it. Keep your hand and wrist straight when clicking or typing. When possible, use a computer tablet and pen or switch to keyboard commands to avoid excessive mouse clicking.
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Alleviate Any Pain
If you are already suffering from symptoms, you can alleviate the pain by putting ice (cold pack) on the inflicted area. Wearing a wrist brace or elbow support and using speech recognition software will also diminish tension. Various relaxation methods, regular stretching exercises and massage might also help you get rid of the pain so you can concentrate on your work instead.
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