N.B.: For over 3 months now, I’m currently experiencing RSI due to so much computer work.  Here’s a guest post about RSI and how to treat it from Ana Brady.  Hope this will help fellow computer workers relieve or treat their RSI problems. – Empress Of Drac

What is RSI and How to Treat It

With the development of technology and appearance of computers, people got a batch of seemingly new disorders/disabilities, or at least new terminology for them: carpal tunnel syndrome, gamer’s thumb, stylus finger, etc. All of these fall under a generic term: Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI).

RSI is not an illness since it has no pathophysiological cause, but it involves pain in a specific part of the body (usually the arms, hands, wrists and back) that can go away on its own, or become a very serious problem and a long term disability.

A lot of people, especially in the US and UK, have been complaining about this problem in the past couple of years. The reason is that people are spending more and more time in front of a computer, either because their job demands it, or because they are becoming computer addicts. The main causes of RSI are:

– improper posture in front of the computer, at work or at home

– repetitive actions with one’s hand or arm

– repeated exertions of pressure on certain objects

– stress at work combined with the above

–  and too much computer work

Two main factors that influence the progress of RSI in computer users are the repetitive clicking of the mouse and “strainful” typing on a keyboard.

Prevention and Treatment

The best advice to computer users is to prevent RSI before it happens. Of course, people tend to dismiss such advice as irrelevant, because everyone thinks it won’t happen to THEM. That’s always a mistake. In case of repetitive stress injury, the consequences can be very grave. There are many cases of people who couldn’t go back to performing their duties at work for years to come and had to apply for disability coverage.

RSI Prevention is consist of:

– most importantly, recognizing the potential problem

– acquiring an ergonomic keyboard that will be perfectly adjusted to one’s hands

– taking breaks from work every 60 minutes to relax and do exercises with the hands, arms, shoulders (get a squeezing ball, or simply do stretching and squeezing motions)

If RSI nonetheless develops, you are best off consulting a doctor. He/she will most probably prescribe resting of that particular stressed-out body part, and medications. You should not take medications without the doctor’s advice, because you can only make the situation worse.

An important part of preventing or treating RSI is acquiring proper computer equipment. It is essential to purchase a good ergonomic keyboard that won’t strain your hands and fingers. The technology is, as always, quick to answer the users’ demands. With the rise of RSI problems, big companies started producing a variety of ergonomic keyboards to meet this new challenge.

If you care about your health, you should make your research about what kind of keyboard would best suit you, and make this investment. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Photo Credit: NotFromUtrecht

About the Guest Author:

Ana Brady is an emerging blogger especially interested in writing about recreation, nutrition, healthy lifestyles, family, etc. She writes when she’s not working on a project on piggyback labels.