Home Treatment for Repetitive Stress Injury

Every workspace has its own ergonomic issues, and every body has different ergonomic needs and problems based on their physique and habits. A lot of generic writing on ergonomics, unfortunately, seems to be prescriptive–forcing users to try to sit in a particular position, creating tools that force you into an upright posture with your arms [...]

A while back I began working for a new client and had the opportunity to try out another ergonomic keyboard, the Kensington “Keyboard for Life.” It’s a slightly revised design of a standard keyboard, plus it’s allegedly spill-proof. I didn’t test the claim by pouring my mocha across the keys, but it sounds like a [...]

Question: Ergonomic mice, keyboards, and other products are made from the same basic materials as their standard, non-ergonomic counterparts. So why are they so expensive? Answer: They aren’t mass produced in the same way as regular keyboards, mice, and so on, so the costs to make them are higher. When items are in high demand, [...]

A while back I wrote about my vision for a future way of interacting with computers-a program that would let you use full body movements to control your mouse and keyboard. The program would accommodate your fitness level and help you get exercise and stay strong, healthy, and active while getting work done. So it’s [...]

Did you know that neck pain and lower back pain are often the result of the same underlying causes? Of all the repetitive stress injuries, neck and back problems may be the most debilitating and despiriting. Not only do they hinder our ability to be productive at work and worry us about job security, but [...]

Apple just introduced a wired, compact keyboard that gets rid of the number keypad on the right, making it more ergonomic for users. From my perspective it’s a great step, but not everyone agrees — some rely heavily on those number pads and don’t want to be without one. The new compact keyboard certainly isn’t [...]

Check these out…I love, love, love these crafty hand-made wrist rests on Etsy. Some of them double as hot/cold packs so they’re therapeutic too. Many have fun fabrics, some smell like mint or lavender. A great way to make your computer station feel comfortable and relaxing, then ease your neck or wrist pain at the [...]

According to one report, 10-20% of computer users report that using the mouse causes them pain. However, there’s no specific type of mouse that’s bad or dangerous, just as there’s no “ergonomic” alternative that can solve the problem for everyone. The same is true for keyboards, chairs and every other piece of computer equipment available. [...]

When you work full time, especially if it means chronic pain in your arms and hands, every part of life can start to feel overwhelming — the last thing you want to do is wade through a bunch of old blog entries to find the easy ways to make things better. So here is a [...]

The thoracic outlet is the region connecting your chest and neck to your shoulder, where bundles of nerves and arteries pass through to supply sensation or blood to your arms. If they get compressed for a few minutes at a time, it won’t affect the blood flow or nerve sensation significantly–but if you spend too [...]