An important commentary from the April 1997 newsletter for the GravenStein Apple Users Group.
Mary Lynn has suffered from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome for some time. She is an avid writer and genealogist and writes in an interesting manner about this computer-related problem. Her article "My Life as a Ghost" last year was picked up by many editors.

Computer Injuries
What to Do When Your Computer
Bites the Hand That Feeds It

by Mary Lynn Archibald

So there you are, happily processing words on your Mac, when suddenly you feel a shooting pain in (pick one): your fingers; your thumb; your wrist; your elbow; your entire hand, or all of the above.'Ow!' You exclaim, aggrieved.

And (here is the bad news) this is only the beginning. Why, you ask? Because, my friend, you are very likely now afflicted with RSI (repetitive strain injury), a malady that is increasingly common among desk-jockeys, slippery to diagnose, and a whole lot easier to avoid than cure. It happens to the best of us, but if it hasnít yet, don't let it happen to you. Because if it does, you will in short order find yourself shopping for: painkillers; anti-inflammatories; splints; ice packs; a good physical therapist; or (worst-case scenario), a great surgeon; a competent attorney, and perhaps an expenive voice-recognition system -- that is, if you plan to keep your job after your lengthy recovery.

RSI of course includes, but is not limited to, the better-known Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, or CTS. RSI is a more inclusive term, which covers such old favorites as tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, and anything else that hurts between your neck and the tips of your fingers.
What to do? Glad you asked. You can do any or all of a staggering number of things, some unique combination of which may help you. The first and most important, of course, is the one your mother was always harping on: Sit up straight!

Proper posture at the keyboard requires an ergonomically correct chair adjusted to the proper height so that your thighs are horizontal, keyboard placed so that you can keep your hands in as close to neutral position as possible (forearms and hands at right angles to your body, with elbows neither rotated out nor in -- though there is controversy about thisñand please do not hyperextend your fingers), monitor at eye level and dead ahead and perhaps a nice adjustable footrest of the sort mentioned in an earlier article. Otherwise, feet should both be flat on the floor. Do not cross you legs when you type (no need to, unless that hunk from Marketing happens by).

Like any athletic pursuit, using a keyboard requires warm-up exercises such as neck and shoulder rolls and hand and arm stretches to promote flexibility. Once you have injured yourself, however, you must have a set of exercises prescribed for you by a physical therapist, that are specifically designed to help with your problem. And for heavenís sake, donít ever type while wearing splints. In fact, if your injury is acute, you may not even be able to go near your keyboard for anywhere from three weeks to three months.

Some people manage to injure themselves so badly they can never type again, period. Both the severity and type of injury will determine this. CTS is amenable to surgery, but for tendinitis (the kind of injury I sustained) the only "cure," if you can call it that, is to stop using your hands. Easier said than done.

If you are like me, you settle for long periods away from what you love most (in my case, writing and gardening) followed by faithful exercise, icing of the affected part(s), and frequent rest breaks. And of course, a certain amount of chronic pain.

Still, I consider myself fortunate. In the acute stage, I suffered agony and difficulty in my struggle to do the things most of us take for granted: buttoning buttons; brushing teeth or hair; reaching; opening doors; pushing or pulling heavy objects. Now at least, I can type for five or ten minutes at a time. And button buttons. And you should see my garden!
RSI can be permanently disabling, and it can happen to anyone -- man, woman or child -- at any time. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates that RSI affects more than twenty percent of those who spend their day typing.

This is only a brief introduction to a complex problem. There are now many very good books available on the causes and cure of RSI. Even Time Magazine has dealt with the subject (see: A Royal Pain In The Wrist, Time October 24th, 1994).

For more information about this growing and serious disability, see my upcoming booklet on the subject: Handle With Care: A Guide for Avoiding/Surviving Repetitive Strain Injury (bibliography and resources included); published by Cloud Lake Press. Or contact The Association for Repetitive Motion Syndromes (A.R.M.S.), Stephanie M. Barnes, Executive Director, P.O. Box 514, Santa Rosa, CA 95402, for membership and newsletter information. (The local support group has been temporarily disbanded, but the wealth of information available through this worthy organization is truly staggering, extremely pertinent, and well-worth the $20 per year membership fee.)
In the meantime (and this is your mother speaking), head up, shoulders back, and keep those feet on the floor.

YOU heard me!

Mary Lynn Archibald


Editors: Please send a copy of the newsletter this article was printed in to:
GSAUG, Editor
P.O. Box 964
Petaluma, CA 94953-0964
Copyright 1997, GSAUG

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