While surfing internet or typing, children and young people often spend their time at the computer. So it becomes important for parents to know about computer related repetitive strain injuries and also how to avoid them. In simple terms, repetitive strain injury is a condition that occurs mainly because of placing too much stress on a joint; the injuries vary in severity and types very often. Most RSI is associated with the stress of repeated movements at keyboard or in sports. In kids, this problem arises mainly due to heavy usage of computer for video game purpose and playing musical gadgets.

Conditions resulting in RSI

  • Cervical radiculopathy: – It is basically a type of disc compression in neck and is often resulted due to repetitive cradling of telephone upon shoulders.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome: – It causes swelling in narrow tunnel created by ligament and bone in the wrist. This tunnel covers nerves that are responsible for conducting sensory and motor impulses to and from wrist resulting tingling, numbness and pain.
  • Ganglion Cyst: – Lump or swelling in wrist ensuing from a jelly like matter that has seeped out from a tendon sheath or a joint.
  • Epicondylitis: – Also known as tennis elbow, it leads to elbow soreness.
  • Tendonitis: – It is inflammation and tearing of ligaments linking bones to muscles.
  • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy: – This condition results swollen and dry hands and loss of muscle control, ultimately causing consistent pain.

Getting ergonomic

Proper sitting posture, correct typing, appropriate computer placement and aptly designed furniture will definitely help to make environment of computer ergonomic and also avoids RSI. While using computer as with other instruments, the ultimate goal is to reduce both repetition and to force you to make certain adequate breaks and to acquire good support and good posture. Furniture being used for placing computer may prove hazardous if it is not adjustable to promote hand positions and the appropriate sitting position. So always avoid a discarded desk with an old chair as a computer placement box as these products do not provide a suitable support.

Make maximum adjustability in the entire set up of system beginning from height of desk and chair to the position of elbows and hands while typing at the keyboard. The major things that one needs to care of to avoid repetitive strain injuiry while working on computer are wrist angle, elbow angle, monitor position, foot position, keyboard height, back position, chair position and leg position. One can also go for alternative curved keyboards or pads and keyboard trays for preventing such injuries.

Filed under: Computer

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