Recently a friend of mine developed repetitive strain injury. His work of developing written language for a people group in Cambodia requires extensive use of a computer keyboard. This constant keyboard work exacerbates his injury & requires significant changes to resolve it. Like most things in life, prevention is better than cure.
What are the key elements for good office ergonomics?
Place your monitor & keyboard in the correct position. Further information is available at websites such as http://www.healthycomputing.com
- Maintain good seating position, & if need be, get a better seat. Good posture is vital for good ergonomics.
- Consider using a headset with your telephone, particularly if you’re on the phone regularly. This can be a cheap yet very effective solution.
- In serious cases, look at options such as zero pressure keyboard & mouse. Although expensive, they are revolutionary & offer genuine alternatives to RSI sufferers.
- Move around, stretch, & get some exercise throughout the day.