05.08.06
Stupid RSI
For the second time in my life, I’ve managed to develop a pain in my forearm by typing with poor ergonomic form. I’m currently wearing a very annoying brace on my left wrist—if it’s tight enough to do any good, it tends to cut off the circulation in my thumb. Still, it beats getting carpel tunnel and needing surgery. Plus it makes a good visual aid for teaching proper typing position to my students.
MiguelD Said:
May 9, 2006 at 6:59 am
I confess I have never completely understood carpel tunnel problems. I have typed for many years (!) now in many positions and none of them have given me pain. I do have to say though the most common position for me is with my elbows and forearms resting on the work surface – rather than hanging free. So, from my wrist to elbow, I am completely supported – only the fingers do any real movement. I know that isn’t supposed to be correct but it continues to work for me.
So it makes me wonder – is a supported forearm really a better position than the “correct” position? has anyone done any research on it?
Nicholas Said:
May 9, 2006 at 7:48 am
As I understand it—and this is based primarily on my own experience—the most important thing is that the wrists be fairly straight and the forearms parallel to the floor. At home I use a wrist rest (I need to get one for work) because if I don’t have something to support my wrists at keyboard level I’ll rest them on the desk, which means my wrists will have to bend upward to reach the keyboard, which is bad. But the main thing I need to avoid is bending my wrists sideways—for example, if I sit too close to the keyboard, my forearms come in at an angle and I have to curve my wrists outward to be on home position. If I sit back a little and center my body on the G and H keys, I don’t have to do that and I’ll experience less pain in the long run.
Emperor Norton Said:
May 26, 2006 at 2:37 pm
Think about your piano lessons. Wrists up! Nicholas is correct about keeping the wrists inline with the forearms. The carpel tunnel is where the tendons transfer from the arm into the hand. And if you perform a repetative task with your wrist in an awkward position, you are more inclined to cause inflammation of the tendons inside the carpel tunnel. Swollen tendons leads to pain, and pain leads to death. Yoda would be proud of me.