Community Newsletter: Q&A: 6/17/05 Computer-related injuries are no laughing matter
- 6/16/05 5:05 PM
You could email me. Thanks!
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 6/17/05 7:26 AM
In reply to: Approval to send a copy of this posting by insbiz
messageboards@cnet.com
Thanks!
-Lee Koo
CNET Community
Has anyone collated this, it's a great topic...
by Oz_Helpdesk - 7/4/05 7:25 PM In reply to: You could email me. Thanks! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Sending a doc for a starter...
Learned the hard way ...
by StarFields - 6/17/05 5:46 AM In reply to: 6/17/05 Computer-related injuries are no laughing matter by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yes, it's true. More should be done to tell the young 'uns.
I lost my legs during a two year intensive project whereby I was sitting in a chair for up to 20 hours a day. I got traveller's thrombosis and now can't hang my legs down off a normal chair for long enough to make it through a cinema visit without extreme discomfort.
I also have neck, arm and shoulder problems from doing graphics design with a mouse (tiny precise movements, hours and hours on end) so I can't work with a mouse at all now.
I've ruined my health quite literally by doing this stuff and it just crept up on me - don't let it happen to you!
Solutions - there are none. Once you got this stuff, it's done and you can't go back.
Fixes - I use only a touch pad now, and all my computers are now lap tops.
I move around with the lap top and go from sitting on the floor, to sitting in an armchair or on a couch, to standing up.
Wish to God I'd taken note of how uncomfortable my body was earlier.
SFX
How I now work comfortably at my comuter
by shimsar - 6/17/05 5:52 AM In reply to: 6/17/05 Computer-related injuries are no laughing matter by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi
I heard and read about the complaints of people who were nearly crippled from working with computers. I also experienced the sore neck, lower back and shoulder pains when trying to get some work done.. trying to do just a bit more, till the pain was too much. Then decided to do something about it.
First of all I adjusted the height of my computer chair so that my elbows were the same height from the floor as were my keyboard and mouse pad. No more leaning out over to the table top to operate my mouse. But because the area available for my manipulating the mouse was a bit too far away from my center of operations my right shoulder were showing signs of discomfort.. So I added a mouse platform to jut out from the keyboard tray so that now I work my mouse with my right elbow close to my body, bent to 90 degrees. But still had pains where the inside of my wrist was rubbing on the platform edge. Having heard about a "floating wrist pad, I located one and for less than a dollar thought I'd give it a try. The perfect solution. Now with the heel of my right hand resting on the floating pad I manipulate my mouse and suffer no friction pains, no tiredness of the shoulder and we get along just right.
Next I had to do something about my back and neck pains.. So I removed the top of my desk and reattached it further back, giving me a wider gap between the table-top and my keyboard tray, then I sliced off most of the keyboard tray leaving just enough to support the keyboard, prepared an adjustable cantilevered shelf - low down UNDER the table top and transfered my monitor from the top of the table to below.
Now without moving my neck, my eyes take in the monitor and keyboard together and my efficiencey at the computer, without ANY pains at all, is a pleasure.
I haven't done it yet but planned, if neccessary, to attach, to the chair back, two "elbow" rests. NOT arm rests, as they would hamper the placing of my chair at the optimum comfortable distance from the keyboard. However I haven't found it neccessary.
Now I have space on the table top for a scanner, two printers (Laser and color) and extra space for whatever...
The only thing missing now is a water cooler at arm's length.
Shmuel Shimshoni
floating wrist pad
by mysty1964 - 6/17/05 7:22 AM In reply to: How I now work comfortably at my comuter by shimsarWhere can i find this floating wrist pad you mentioned for under a dollar? i would love to try this.
Floating wrist pad
by shimsar - 6/19/05 11:09 AM In reply to: floating wrist pad by mysty1964I once found a couple of them in a local Dollar store and bought one for myself and one for my daughter.
They were just under $1, having been made in China.
Not the best workmanship but a great help.
I'm sure that regular suppliers would have them, but maybe not at that price.
Whatever, it pays a lot better than going through surgery and the aftermath.
Keep your health, it is irrepkaceable...
Shmuel (shimsar)
Floating mouse pad - more info
by shimsar - 6/19/05 11:23 AM In reply to: floating wrist pad by mysty1964After i sent out the last message I checked out Ebay looking for "mouse pad" they have one going for $0.49 with just a bit over 4 hours to go.
It pays to look it up.
Shmuel
Computer related injuries
by Linda Rahmer - 6/17/05 5:52 AM In reply to: 6/17/05 Computer-related injuries are no laughing matter by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I just wanted to share what has worked for me.
I have been working on computers since 1989. Around 1993 I developed some buzzing sensation in the wrist area. I found that chiropractic adjustments and sublingual vitamin b worked until I sustained a rotator cuff (frozen shoulder) injury from all the tennis I play.
I went for physical therapy for this injury, got total use of both arms back and have been able to maintain this because I was put on a weight-lifting program. To this day (this happened almost two years ago) I no longer get that buzzing up and down the arms. I can sit in front of my computer from 8am until 11pm at night (this is with breaks every 20 minutes) with NO PROBLEMS at all.
I feel that as long as I get my adjustments and lift my weights this can work for a very long time. I have NO PAIN or discomfort with my arms at all, and like I said,I sit in front of the computer all day and all night.
where's the MS Natural keyboard?
by Jim Johnson - 6/17/05 6:05 AM In reply to: 6/17/05 Computer-related injuries are no laughing matter by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
With my right hand going numb, I switched to the Microsoft Natural keyboard and a keyboard drawer at the right height several years ago. 20 minutes of practice, and I've never considered any other keyboard layout design.
It is now nearly impossible to find the original Natural key layout. Microsoft has only a couple models in production, and they reduced the size of the F function keys and especially - mucked up the center bank of cursor movement keys to squeeze in various other specialized keys. Trying to find these few new models on retailer's shelves where you may be able to run your fingers through the keys is even more difficult.
I'm sure the reason is based on actual sales of these keyboards. Too bad more people haven't figured out the value of this keyboard design. Most people type on the $3 throw away that comes bundled with most new computers, then wonder why they have problems.
natural is the way to go !!!
by momule - 6/17/05 10:12 AM In reply to: where's the MS Natural keyboard? by Jim JohnsonI SO totally agree with the sentiment about the "natural keyboard" configuration. It took me a couple weeks to get used to not squeezing my elbows at my sides and then just relaxing (assuming the keyboard is at the right height of course) but once I did so it was like a gift... keyboarding became easy, my back quit hurting, and I even picked up some WPM while typing. I HIGHLY recommend this keyboard setup !!!!!
A simple technique to help
by ScottBennyhoff - 6/17/05 6:11 AM In reply to: 6/17/05 Computer-related injuries are no laughing matter by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
While this may not work for everyone, a simple way to cut down on one problem is to change the hand you use to control the mouse. I use one hand at work, the other at home. I used to have pains in my dominant hand and arm, but since using this technique the pain has gone. Its hardly a perfect answer, but anyone with pain from using a mouse should at least try it.
Ergonomic Mouse platform
by lkstew99 - 6/17/05 6:24 AM In reply to: 6/17/05 Computer-related injuries are no laughing matter by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
For those people who primarily use a mouse while sitting in front of the computer, let me recommend a product for you to try. It's called a MegaMouse LaunchPad. It's described and can be ordered from this page...
***********************
If you are comfortable with your arm resting on the arm of your computer chair then this tray might just be the answer. It's an inexpensive item to try.
Larry Stewart
Ottawa, Canada
computer injuries
by ncwriter - 6/17/05 6:25 AM In reply to: 6/17/05 Computer-related injuries are no laughing matter by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
One of the major injuries of computer related injuries is poor posture in front of the computer. A great article is found at http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/html/healthy_living/health_in_news/neck.html#5 and is written by members of the Osteopathic Information Service, the International Chiropractors Association and the Society of the Alexander Technique (that's a technique used by the massage industry). I am a writer and occasionally publish a newsletter; recently I published one in which I used a diagram of a woman at a computer and some points to remember about posture. If the publishers of Cnet would write lshetzer@isp.com, I'll send it to them to publish in their newsletter.
Just an observation
by dmalcolm - 6/17/05 6:30 AM In reply to: 6/17/05 Computer-related injuries are no laughing matter by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
In all the messages I read here I didn't any mention of just plain old exercise. I do believe that computer work stations need to be ergonomically sound. However, I also suspect the important things to remember is regular breaks and some form of whole body exercise. I am 62 and I've been working with computers for 30 years. I am not a pro athlete. Just your average somewhat overweight old guy. But I do take frequent breaks from the keyboard and outside of work I exercise. Mostly walking and stretching with some strength training. Outside of some arthritis in my carpal/meta-carpel joints I have no pain or detectable repeditive stress injury. Interestingly the most arthritis pain comes from the thumb joint that gets used the least (the carpal/meta-carpal joint is the first hand to thumb interface joint).
Dan Malcolm
COG ( Certified Old Guy )
carptunnel from repetive use
by hercon - 6/17/05 6:31 AM In reply to: 6/17/05 Computer-related injuries are no laughing matter by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
very good answers .but this is a medical problem .
immune system .swolen /infected rist area .
i challange all to try this .
salmon oil salmon oil only not fish it will not work .
start 3 cap per day ,perfered way is at night you can try day but most don`t like the taste.
you can add 3 more if 3 does not work .
add some cod liver oil ,i use 3 also
keep uping dose of samon oil till pain goes away then you can discontinue till pain starts back .
you may like to add some vit e to add protection of the oils you are using ,they all support each other.
this realy does work .the best antiinflaitory i have ever found ,some have avoided surgery this way ,.of course if you like surgery have it done ,idont like the knives used to correct the problem .
moto keep it simple god knows best use food if at all posible . ??? call herman at 618-439-3398 leave message if meed be i`ll call you back any thing to help.
a friend
herman tiberend
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