|
Are you sitting comfortably? |
|
|
|
|
Written by Tony Phelps
|
|
Tuesday, 13 December 2005 |
It is easy, even quite common, to spend long periods of time sitting in front of a computer. Whether actively typing or mostly reading, either way your body is unnaturally still for longer than it should be. Be aware that Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a real and common problem that you can take steps to avoid.
RSI has made headlines in many countries many times, usually as a result of an employer being made to pay vast sums of money in compensation to staff who have suffered pain, loss of earnings or promotion, or even permanent disablement through inappropriate use of computers. You are most likely to have encountered a hint of what RSI can do when you stand up after a long session at the computer and feel aches and pains, especially in your wrists, hands, back and neck.
The good news is that RSI is avoidable. All it takes is regular breaks in concentration – do some stretches, stand up and take a short walk, focus on something far away for a minute or two, and shake out your hands and roll your head around on your shoulders. The human body is not meant to hold a fixed position for hours at a time, and reacts badly when forced to. Basically, every fifteen minutes or so, you should make sure that you keep the blood flowing to all parts of your body by doing some quick and simple exersise as just described.
Another important aspect of avoiding RSI is your environment around the computer. Not only are computers generally ugly, but they are big and bulk too. It is common to see them shoved out of the way in some corner – and even people who are constantly using them fail to locate them in a central place on their desks. Standard advice for the correct siting and use of computers includes ;
• Place the monitor in front of you at eye-level or just below, so that you are not bending your neck and back to look at the screen
• Place the keyboard and mouse directly in front of you – never make yourself twist to use them.
• Adjust the height of your chair so that your wrists are straight when using the keyboard, and so that your shoulders are relaxed with your elbows at your side.
• Don't rest your wrists on anything when typing, and don't rest your wrists on any edges ever (such as the edge of the desk). Restricting blood-flow to your fingers and hands is not healthy.
Follow these basic good practices, and you should be able to use the computer for work or play for as long as you want or need to (within reason!), without making your body pay a price for it.
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 December 2005 )
|
