Can Using Your PC Cause You Injury?

Yes it can. It can cause RSI problems. If you don’t know what RSI is it is Repetitive Strain Injury which can be caused by using your PC. The most common cause of RSI is carpel Tunnel. Here is a brief description

Computer workers, video game players, people who text a lot on mobile phones or use PDAs are succumbing in alarming proportions to a group of diseases caused by just sitting and clicking. These conditions are usually conveniently put under the umbrella term 'Repetitive Strain Injury.' RSI covers a wide variety of problems both those with colourful names like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Blackberry Thumb and Trigger Finger as well as "pain-between-shoulder-blades" or one of the hundreds of kinds of upper body tendonitis.

What these diseases have in common is that they all can be caused by doing the same repetitive movements over a long time period. Doing them while in a fixed posture, especially bad posture, just multiplies the problem.

Here are descriptions of RSI problems

Wrist: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A condition where the median nerve is compressed or damaged as it passes through the carpel tunnel of the wrist. It is characterized by pain, numbness or tingling sensations in the hand as well as weakness of thumb opposition (drawing the pads of the thumb and little finger firmly together). It is the most commonly mis-diagnosed of the Repetitive Strain Injuries.

This is just one of the common complaints that you can get from working on your PC. Here are some more,

Elbow: and Forearm:  Tendonitis

Inflammation of a tendon due to overuse. The most common cause of tendonitis is repetitive actions which can create microtears in the collagen matrix structure of the tendon itself. This results in inflammation and weakening of the tendon. Tendonitis can be diagnosed by ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging. It is easy to treat in its early stages and difficult to treat in later stages. If tendonitis is detected early, it can be treated effectively by exercises, stretches and changes to the environment.

Upper Arm: Frozen Shoulder

Medically referred to as �Adhesive Capsulitis’; A condition of the shoulder which causes severe restriction specifically in lifting the arm out to the side and up. The shoulder is composed of a shallow ball and socket joint with a tremendous range of motion. Any injury to the supporting muscles or ligaments will create a lessening of the shoulder mobility. Adhesive Capsulitis is a condition where the ligament network (called the fibrous capsule) which surrounds the joint becomes adhered (stuck). This is generally due to a previous injury and often also involves severe tension and/or weakness of the deep muscles which surround it called the rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis). Rehabilitation may require manipulation of the joint and a course of physiotherapy and exercises.

Here are a few ways to help you to stop getting RSI.

Ergonomics

Here are 3 tips on how to set up your desk and chair in the right position

·                  Choose the surface height for the desk

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·                   (Standing, sitting or semi-seated) best for the task to be performed. Computer entry work could be seated or standing, depending on the need to use other tools or references. The specific height of the work surface will also need to vary based on the height of the individual worker.

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·                  Adjust the seat of  your  chair

 So that the work surface is  “elbow high.” A fist should be able to pass easily behind the calf and in front of the seat edge to keep the back of the legs from being pressed too hard and the feet from swelling. Two fingers should slip easily under each thigh. If not, use a couple of telephone books or a footrest to raise the knees level with the hips. The backrest of the office chair should push the low back forward slightly. If these adjustments cannot be adequately made with the existing office chair, a different make or type of chair may be considered.

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·                  Fit the height of the computer screen.

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·                   Sit comfortably in the newly adjusted chair. Close both eyes and relax. Then, slowly reopen them and look at the screen then that is where to put the centre of the computer screen. The screen can be raised using books or a stand if needed.

Take a break every hour to stretch your shoulders and arms just by raising them slowly.

Here is a great place to learn more about RSI and to get a FREE trial of Desk Doctor . Whether you feel fine, or are already aware of the impact of prolonged computer use, Desk Doctor will help you keep fit for the task.

http://www.einspine.com