When I was going through all of the lectures this week, the concept that stuck out the most to me were the health risks that are becoming a huge issue in our world today. The most prevalent one is Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI. This happens if you do the exact same bodily motion over again, such as typing, gripping the mouse, or staring at the monitor, because that can cause damage to your tendons, nerves, and muscles. The damage can take form as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, mild facial pain syndrome, burcitis, or tensivitis. As computers are used more and more every day, repetitive strain injuries are a real health risk. You should watch out for symptoms for yourself, your families, and those you supervise in the business environment. Symptoms to watch out for are tightness, discomfort, stiffness, soreness or burning in the hands, wrists, fingers, forearms, or elbows; gentling, coldness, or numbness in the hands; clumsiness or loss of strength and coordination in the hands; pain that wakes you up at night; feeling a need to massage your hands, wrists, and arms; and/or pain in the upper back, shoulders, or neck associated with using the computer. If you notice any of these, then it is definitely time to change your habits so it doesn’t get worse. Also, you shouldn’t always wait until you see a problem before you take precautions; preventative actions should be taken so that there is never a need to worry.
There are actions we can take ourselves, as well as technologies we can purchase to reduce the risks of injury by computers. Natural tactics include correct typing techniques, correct posture and chair height, and not resting or angling your wrists while typing or using the mouse. If your wrists are straight and you are at the correct position for your computer screen, your body will be in a more natural and comfortable position while you do your work. Many people surf the web just to pass time, for no purpose or work goal. If you eliminate unnecessary computer use, or do some of our work with paper, pen, and physical calculators, the risks will be severely reduced. It is also recommended to take breaks from constant computer usage, even just to walk around the room, stretch your legs, arms, and necks. This would be very beneficial to you. I would suggest interval breaks for the entire office, where everyone can get up and walk around and do hand exercises for a few minutes to prevent your employees from being injured as well. There are “natural” keyboards that are built at various angles so that wrists aren’t strained while you get your work done. There are different shaped mice to keep your arm at a natural angle to avoid stress. Wrist rests are also a valuable purchase, because they provide a way for you to not hold your wrists at a straight angle, without causing long term damage. Monitor and chair adjusting should be taken into account if any symptoms are noticed.
Other things that I am sure will become a concern in society soon are damage to your eyes from the monitor, and radiation from the computer. We place laptops on our thighs and near our reproductive areas. I have a strong feeling that cancer will be found in those areas because of this, in addition to reproductive issues of some kind.
For more information on symptoms and preventative tactics of RSI, you can visit:
http://www.safecomputingtips.com/repetitive-stress-injury.html
http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~cscott/rsi.html
There are actions we can take ourselves, as well as technologies we can purchase to reduce the risks of injury by computers. Natural tactics include correct typing techniques, correct posture and chair height, and not resting or angling your wrists while typing or using the mouse. If your wrists are straight and you are at the correct position for your computer screen, your body will be in a more natural and comfortable position while you do your work. Many people surf the web just to pass time, for no purpose or work goal. If you eliminate unnecessary computer use, or do some of our work with paper, pen, and physical calculators, the risks will be severely reduced. It is also recommended to take breaks from constant computer usage, even just to walk around the room, stretch your legs, arms, and necks. This would be very beneficial to you. I would suggest interval breaks for the entire office, where everyone can get up and walk around and do hand exercises for a few minutes to prevent your employees from being injured as well. There are “natural” keyboards that are built at various angles so that wrists aren’t strained while you get your work done. There are different shaped mice to keep your arm at a natural angle to avoid stress. Wrist rests are also a valuable purchase, because they provide a way for you to not hold your wrists at a straight angle, without causing long term damage. Monitor and chair adjusting should be taken into account if any symptoms are noticed.
Other things that I am sure will become a concern in society soon are damage to your eyes from the monitor, and radiation from the computer. We place laptops on our thighs and near our reproductive areas. I have a strong feeling that cancer will be found in those areas because of this, in addition to reproductive issues of some kind.
For more information on symptoms and preventative tactics of RSI, you can visit:
http://www.safecomputingtips.com/repetitive-stress-injury.html
http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~cscott/rsi.html
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