Repetitive Stress Injury Avoidance & Treatment

Repetitive Stress Injuries, or Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) are caused by prolongued repetitive motions just as the name would suggest. Many people who would otherwise be fit and healthy suffer from this condition because they don't expect it and don't recognize the symptoms before it gets very painful and stiff, only then trying to react to the condition.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (RSI of the wrist) and repetitive stress disorder are preventable and they are worth avoiding. In today's high tech world carpal tunnel occurs most commonly when a person spends too much time typing, and is worsened by using generic peripherals and a poor ergonomic setup. These days everyone is using computers and keyboards nonstop at work, school, and even for fun at home where games, intant messaging and other activities such as scrapbooking require the use of a keyboard and mouse.

Most standard keyboards, especially laptop keyboards, are not very ergonomically correct. This is because they require the computer user to rotate their wrists outwards in both directions in order to achieve the correct positioning of the fingers. An average sized person has to bring their forearms close together to reach the center of the keyboard and then force their wrists to rotate out which is very hard on the body.

Thankfully, this keyboard problem is fairly easy to address. There are several manufacturers out there producing ergonomic keyboards specifically designed to reduce the tension a user might be have. The larger the user, the more important tools like this become! Would you expect Michael Jordan to use your kid's sneakers for a game? Of course not, and yet everyone in the world is expected to use one basic keyboard layout, it's just not realistic. See the picture below that I created specifically to demonstrate wrist tension with a laptop and keyboard correction option.

You can see from the images above that the forearm approach, wrists angle, and even the fingers and thumbs are more relaxed with the white USB ergonomic keyboard. These shots are not doctored or exadurated in any way, this is how I do type on a regular basis and indeed I do sometimes type using my laptop keyboard out of convenience. The real key with RSI is taking breaks, rotating devices, and simply acknowledging the stresses that your body is going through. You don't always have to use a curved keyboard, but having one to switch to or use at work is a great idea.

Aside from keyboards like this there are also several different types of mice you can use to relax your wrists. My nephew lives and works in the Silicon Valley in California and he has had jobs with Hewlett Packard, Google, and Accenture which each required a lot of time behind a computer. In his case, there is so much typing going on that he rotates between three keyboards and four mice! Below are a few examples of the different mice that use different types of movement to create a response. These peripherals do take a bit of getting used to, but it's much better than having to sit out for a day or two because your wrist feels like it's on fire.

Note that most of these mice, despite being different looking or shaped, still use the same wrist and finger muscles for movement. Variety in how the muscle is used is great, but the only mouse that really changes things up is the very last one with the yellow arror pointing at it. This mouse requires the user to scroll around the page with their thumb.

One other important factor when considering a second or third mouse (or even your first) is the weight of the mouse. Sure, the new wireless mice seem cool and elegant, but they weigh (and cost) quite a bit more than the old fashioned corded mice. For mice with trackballs or joysticks this isn't an issue because the user isn't actually moving the mouse, just a part of it, but for other normal mice this is a big consideration.

So aside from multiple peripherals and ergonomic setup how else can you avoid RSI? Just take breaks... It's that simple. Every 20 minutes or so get up and stretch, gently flex your hands and wrists. While your at it, look around the room or go outside to give your eyes a rest.

Even with all of the things listed here, RSI and Carpal Tunnel can still occur. Despite his four mice and three different keyboards my nephew regularly comes in for a visit when he's in town and attends regularly at a local specialist when he's in California. The treatment I provide for him is a sort of wrist massage and muscle loosening. By providing a full body adjustment including the back, neck, shoulders, and arms I am able to relax the body and allow it to begin healing. I also use acupuncture to address this type of injury and give the person a path to recovery. If you're local or passing through Loveland Colorado please stop by for a treatment.