Carpal Tunnel and RSI injuries

aman74

Senior member
Mar 12, 2003
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Not sure that I have an injury necessarily, but I am in some pain and hoping to avoid any damage.

Anyone have any tips on how to avoid computer related injuries? Any products you use such as mousepads, alternative mice and keyboards, desks, chairs, exercise routines that you do?

And also any websites dedicated to this are appreciated.

Thanks!
 

dguy6789

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2002
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sigpop

Member
Jan 5, 2005
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love my "broken" (ergo) keybd. my hands/wrists ache after using the standard flat ones.
 

pkme2

Diamond Member
Sep 30, 2005
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I use a jelly based wrist pad at times and Logitech trackball for my CTS. Has improved condition immensely over the years.
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
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Here are some suggestions. Change the angle of your keyboard - really, it should tilt AWAY from you. Do this with a pad or block of wood under the front. Then build up a wrist pad that is a bit higher so that the tops of your wrists are flat are slightly angled. down. Look at how a classically trained pianist holds his/her hands.

The reason we have keyboards tilted up in back is a meaningless carry over from the typewriter.

Next, minimize the use of a mouse - get a digitizing pad and use the stylus for pointing and clicking. And get a separate wrist pad foryour mouse so that again, your wrists are more like this: ----\ as opposed to ___/.

An alternative, wrist friendly pointing device is a trackball - the bigger the better.

And, exercise your fingers and hands with a squeeze ball when not computing. To counter RSI, it is useful to stress muscles and joints ooposite to what you are currently doing.

 

aman74

Senior member
Mar 12, 2003
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Thanks for the generous help so far. I don't have time right now to reply thoroughly, but I will try to soon.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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i use a ms ergo multimedia kb. has nice multimedia keys that re well labeled and shaped for quick access, and the keys work pretty well. its the split type, and oen at online stores its about 23-25bucks. retail is double. pixel usa had it last i checked
 
Dec 5, 2005
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The important thing is to do what's comfortable for YOU. Personally, I use a chair that most would consider a lawn chair. It rocks back and forth and has lots of cushioning. Height is important for your mouse and keyboard. Make sure your chair is tall or short enough for your needs, or your desk is the right height. Just make sure you're comfortable, it may require testing a number of chairs.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
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I started working a lot on the computer a few years ago and started getting neck pain, wrist pain, etc. Here are the solutions that worked for me:

1. Cloth mousepad: Easier on your arm. I actually use a big one from Xtrac. The larger size helps because you don't have to constantly move your mouse back to keep it centered.
2. Ergonomic keyboard: I have a wireless ergonomic keyboard from Microsoft. It took awhile to get the hang of, but I absolutely love it now. I've done a lot of tape transcription work over the last few years (from microcassette voice to Word) and it's really helped my wrists not to hurt.
3. Chair/posture: Before I had a curved "slacker" chair that I really liked, but after spending 8 hours+ on the computer, I knew I had to get something else. I found a nice "task chair" from Staples for $99 made out of cloth (fabric instead of leather). The back is straight up and that really helped my back pain. Also, you need good posture, because you can slouch in any chair. Sitting up straight helped alleviate my neck pain. It's hard to sit up straight at first, but a little trick I learned is to scoot your rear all the way back into the chair, which makes the rest of your body kind of sit up automatically. Takes a while to break the slouching habit.
4. Monitor position: I also found that where the monitor is placed makes a big deal. I was always looking down to the monitor, which also gave me neck pain. I think they recommend that your eyes are level with 25% down from the top of the screen. I found that the best for me is to have the screen slightly angled towards me and looking near the top at eye level.

I spend about 12 hours a day now on a computer (between work and school) and I have no pain to speak anymore. Like jesusfr3ak4evr said, the important thing is to do what's comfortable for you. Not all ergonomic advice is necessarily good advice for your particular body and situation. Anyway, that's what's worked for me.
 

CJP

Senior member
Jul 23, 2002
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My RSI is a sore shoulder when using the mouse. So what I did was I loaded Dragon Naturally Speaking onto my system and now I surf the web with my voice and it really cuts down on how much I use the mouse. Also I bought a Logitech Dinovo keyboard with a detachable numpad to get my mouse closer to the keyboard (although that probably helps my shoulder more that it would your CTS since it's still a non ergo flat keyboard).
 

RallyMaster

Diamond Member
Dec 28, 2004
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MS Natural Ergonomic 4000 keyboard is a must. My right arm used to hurt after being on the computer too long, but after getting this thing, it has never hurt even once.
 

aman74

Senior member
Mar 12, 2003
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Originally posted by: corkyg
Here are some suggestions. Change the angle of your keyboard - really, it should tilt AWAY from you. Do this with a pad or block of wood under the front.

Next, minimize the use of a mouse - get a digitizing pad and use the stylus for pointing and clicking. And get a separate wrist pad foryour mouse so that again, your wrists are more like this: ----\ as opposed to ___/.

An alternative, wrist friendly pointing device is a trackball - the bigger the better.

I've heard this opposite angle helps alot and some keyboards now have it.

What is a digitizing pad?

I've heard pros and cons on the trackballs, like someone said it all depends on the individual though. I've also heard wrist pads are bad and that you should never rest your wrists, again it's probably a ymmv.

CJP Mentions the detachable numeric pad which I think would help me alot. Anyone know of an ergo keyboard that has that feature or is compact on that side?

What is the difference between a split and a slanted keyboard? All the ergo ones I see seem to be split and slanted.

Hope this isn't considered bumping an old thread, but I can't get on here all the time and I'm researching my options with this first. Also, my time on the PC is cut back until I find out if I have a real problem or not. I don't know that I have an injury, just in some pain and playing it safe. I never understood why bumping an older thread is bad internet etiqutte anyway. People complain about seeing the same topics all the time and tell people to use search. Well, if you use search and find an old thread with good info and have something to add or question something that is written and you add it to that thread all the relevant info is there. Instead of starting a new thread and having people tell you to go search first, lol.

Anyways, sorry for the rant, hopefully this isn't considered that old anyhow since not everyone gets to the internet everyday.

Peace all!

 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
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I see no problem in resurrecting an old thread as long as you have questions and are still seeking info. A digitizing pad is like this:

Pad

I started using this (on two ancestral versions) back in about 1998 when I started to get symptoms of wrist pain. It solved my problem and I have not had pain since. I also reverse tilted my keyboard.

You might also find this useful:

Study
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
49,270
5,820
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Originally posted by: corkyg
I see no problem in resurrecting an old thread as long as you have questions and are still seeking info. A digitizing pad is like this:

Pad

I started using this (on two ancestral versions) back in about 1998 when I started to get symptoms of wrist pain. It solved my problem and I have not had pain since. I also reverse tilted my keyboard.

You might also find this useful:

Study

I use a Wacom tablet for my artwork and absolutely love it. I'm currently using a Graphire4; I upgraded from a Graphire2 after I accidentally vacuumed up the USB cord and shredded it (arg!). This could potentionally be a good ergonomic device, coupled with an ergonomic keyboard.
 

OSX

Senior member
Feb 9, 2006
662
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You also might try switching to a Dvorak layout, seeing as how it's a better design than QWERTY. Personally, I loathe the Ergo keyboards, in fact they're actually less comfortable than the normal keyboards. I don't use any sort of wrist mat at all, either. My Logitech Internet Pro had one, but I pulled it off.
 

aman74

Senior member
Mar 12, 2003
261
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0
More good info here from all, thanks!

First thing I think I need to do is get a chair with no arms on it and start with correct posture. Always seems the keyboard trays are too low and you have to raise up the chair to get you arms at the angle most of the articles I have read recommend.

I have alot of looking to do. The hard part is then finding good prices.