I actually intended to write this blog entry a few weeks ago, but with one thing and another never quite got around to it. However thanks to a work colleague having similar problems I was reminded!
One of the most common problems that people in the IT industry suffer, are aches, strains and pain that generally gets classed under the heading RSI. It’s usually associated with either typing, or using a mouse, or both. With it being so common, a whole industry has grown up producing ergonomic keyboards, mice, mouse-mats, wrist rests and so on.
Anyway, I didn’t have had problems from time to time, but didn’t have too much of a major problem until last year, when during the requirements gathering stage of my current project I started to get discomfort from my right wrist and thumb. After a bit of consideration of what I was doing different, I changed the pen I was using for note taking to one with a larger barrel, and using gel ink and the problem seemed to go away. However since then I’ve had a couple of recurrences, with no real pattern that I could discern. The advice on the topic I could find, and the comments online from people with similar problems was that the best solution was usually to take some anti-inflammatory pain killers, and try to avoid doing what was causing the pain and discomfort. The other common thread was that whilst surgery may cure the problem for a while, it often came back. There is also a general problem that most of the online advice comes either from sufferers, or from manufacturers of ergonomic equipment. Whilst the advice to stop doing what you’re doing makes sense, when your entire job (and most jobs today) revolves around keyboards and mice, it becomes a bit of a problem!
However, one of the RSS feeds I regularly keep an eye on is from the O’Reilly Network, who produce the range of ‘animal’ technical books that most IT people will be familiar with. Last month an article came through on their feed written by one of their authors about his search for good advice on RSI online. The article gives a brief introduction, and also looks at various ergonomic keyboards and mice, however the most important thing I gained from the article was a recommendation of an American book on RSI in Computer Professionals called “It’s Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: RSI Theory & Therapy for Computer Professionalsâ€?. The key point from the book being that the source of the problem is not in your hand or wrist, hence why having surgery and all the ergonomic everything’s that you can get doesn’t address the root cause of the problem. It also highlights than in a lot of cases, you local doctor will tend to offer solutions to the symptoms – not the root problem.
Anyway, I got hold of the book, which has certainly been an eye opener, and is definitely one I would recommend for anybody experiencing RSI symptoms, especially if you’re in the IT industry. Being written specifically for Computer Professionals, it seems to be a lot easier to understand what is going on, and ultimately make you better able to do what you need to do in as much comfort as possible. It is worth stressing that the book is no miracle cure – but it does point you in the right direction for addressing any RSI problems you may have, or ensuring that you don’t develop them in the first place!
