Re: Health Problems Related to the Geek Lifestyle

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Fielder's right about the keyboard height.

You also need to make sure that your monitor is at the right height,
and that your keyboard is tilted not with the back of it up, but the
front of it up. My keyboard is at about a 20 degree angle, with my
keyboard tray a few inches below my 'desk surface', and my monitor is
propped up on books and boards to make it about eye height. The
angle of the keyboard helps you keep your wrists straight, especially
when the keyboard is 'lower' than your writing surface. Keeping your
elbows at a greater than 90 angle helps alleviate stress on your
elbows (you can get tendonitis in your elbows, which is painful and
really irritating.) As well, make sure you aren't cocking out your
hands to compensate for arms that approach at an angle (in that one
article, it warns you about that.)

Stretching, wrist breaks, and proper posture do a lot, too.

I don't quite agree with the article about keyboarding not causing
carpal tunnel. The doctor I've been working with for the past... year
or so said that it's not necessarily keyboarding that causes it - it
is your typing, how you type, your hobbies, etc. As he said, at least
25% of computer users have carpal tunnel syndrome - it's just that the
symptoms aren't strong enough to notice. (My symptoms are 'moderate'
but I only have the classic symptoms in my right hand, FWIW.) What
causes you to tip over the edge is the times you work really long
hours for a few weeks in a row, or do other things with your hands
(like putting in flooring, wrenching on your car, etc) that put you
over the edge. Kind of like Sisyphus pushing that boulder up the hill
- - Each day, you work towards carpal tunnel, only to have the boulder
roll back down the hill at the end of the day, when you stop working,
rest, sleep, etc. Work longer days, or do things that will irritate
your carpal tunnel, and you get closer to the top. Enough of it, and
the boulder rolls over the top. Then you need to push it the other way
up the hill, which takes a very long time, and is both painful and
irritating.

If you are thinking you are having symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome,
I'd recommend talking to a doctor NOW instead of when you are having
problems holding a water glass, or having tingling fingers. If you
work at home, it might be worth your while to have an ergonomic
evaluation, which will point out problems and give you mandates for
what you need to change. My symptoms got a lot better after I had
one and changed up my workstation. If you have worker's comp, it'll
often cover it, but only after you are 'injured' (no preemption, sadly.)

Adam

Fielder George Dowding wrote:

> Hmmm... I have pointed out that learning on a mechanical typewriter
> has saved me from the horrors of carpel tunnel syndrome. Greg is
> right that ergonomics, that is posture and technique are
> everything, but my observation is he and everyone else is off base
> in suggesting wrist or forearm rests. The sad thing is too many
> computer installations are on a regular table or desk with the
> keyboard too high. Observer a proper typing return on a secretary's
> desk. It is about three inches lower than the writing surface part
> of the desk. I have the keyboard on which I am typing on the
> writing surface but I have my chair at maximum height which
> compensates. I also have an IBM Model M keyboard - clicky keys
> requiring a rather stiff stroke. When I keyboard, my wrists are in
> line with my forearms so there is no additional pressure on the
> carpel tunnel from a) wrists at an angle, or b) a wrist rest.
>
> (sigh!) fgd.
>
> Greg Madden wrote:
>
>> On Wednesday 05 April 2006 18:49, Damien Hull wrote:
>
>>> This was on /.
>>>
>>> http://www.carotids.com/lifestyle/health-problems-related-to-the-geek-l
>>> ifestyle/
>>>
>>> Here's the carpal tunnel section.
>>>
>>> http://www.carotids.com/con/con-does-computer-use-cause-carpal-tunnel/
>>>
>>>
>>> Could those of you who have carpal tunnel or similar health
>>> problems comment on this?
>>>
>>> I would like to know if my excessive computer use will give me
>>> carpal tunnel or not. I do have a slight pain in my mouse
>>> hand/wrist/arm. My left hand/wrist/arm isn't as bad but there
>>> is also a slight pain.
>>>
>>> I would like to avoid a trip to the doctor.
>
>
>> Ergonomics is everthing if you spend hours using a computer. I
> found using
>> the mouse is part of wrist/hand,elbow,shoulder problems.
>
>> In my case I ignored the wrist pain, it went away and then it was
>> the elbow. I ignored that and my shoulder ended up taking all the
>> abuse. 8 weeks of PT to get my shoulder loosened up.
>
>> Use the mouse as little as possible, use the keyboard & key
>> bindings, support your whole arm , from the wrist up to the elbow
>> in some
> fashion
>> so there is no using your body muscles to support the arm. Get a
>> chair that has lumbar support & height adjustment, the height
>> adjustment
> will
>> go along wit the support of the arms.
>
>> I am sure Adam has some additions concerning keyboarding.
>
>> Good Luck
>
>
> -- Fielder George Dowding, Chief Iceworm .^. Debian/GNU
> Linux dba Iceworm Enterprises, Anchorage, Alaska /v\ "etch"
> Testing Since 1976 - Over 25 Years of Service. /( )\ User
> Number 269482 ^^-^^ "irad" 301256

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Received on Thu Apr 6 08:58:21 2006