Avoiding RSI

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If you’re making plans for the year (though a bit late for actual resolutions perhaps?) then a good thing to think about is avoiding RSI. Learning technology and social media people spend a lot of time at keyboards and using computer mice.

What would be the one thing that would seriously affect your ability to work? RSI!

If you’ve ever had a scare and found your fingers spasming from keyboarding or your shoulder seizing up because of mouse use, then I won’t have to tell you how important it is to protect yourself from RSI. I have seen the consequences of RSI and that made me much more aware. But new technology comes out and you find yourself using technologies in different ways – for example my ergonomic chair and keyboard don’t do me much good now that I’m working on a laptop away from my desk most of the time. So it’s got to be a good time to review your working practices to avoid RSI.

  1. Don’t work crazy hours – take breaks from using the computer for this reason if no other! Limit non-essential computer use – if you work at a computer all day, playing computer games all evening is probably not the best hobby.
  2. Take regular breaks – 5 minutes every 30-45 minutes is a good rule of thumb – and in that 45 minutes get up and move around. (Get a coffee, visit the water cooler, do some filing…)
  3. Stretching exercises, e.g., http://www.mydailyyoga.com/yoga/rsi.html
  4. Optimize the ergonomics of your working environment: check your seating position, the angle of your keyboard. Change your behaviour: e.g., customize your mouse settings to use it occasionally with your other hand or use keyboard shortcuts.
  5. If you think you may have symptoms – see a doctor and/or physiotherapist as soon as possible

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