5 Ways to Avoid Repetitive Strain Injury
Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI is a problem that a lot of people face these days. It is basically a condition in which repetitive hand movements or actions cause pain, discomfort, numbness etc. in a person’s hands. It’s like a disabling illness, and is mostly caused due to excessive usage of computers or phones, because of prolonged and repetitive actions of typing and clicking, or because of writing too much, playing the piano or drums for too long etc.
While the symptoms of RSI may not be the same with everyone, easy ways to identify the problem could be noticing numbness in the hands and forearms, chronically cold fingers or hands, clumsiness in holding and grasping things properly, fatigue and constant feeling of exhaustion etc. In some severe cases, pain starts to spread to the shoulders and spine as well. Here are a few ways in which one can avoid Repetitive Strain Injury:
1. Limit Computer Use
Needless to say, this is the most obvious way of dealing with the problem. Avoid using the computer too much, especially when your work is over and you are unnecessarily browsing on the net. Give yourself regular breaks even during work, to save your hands from typing constantly.
2. Use Voice Commands
That saves you from actually clicking and typing most of your actions. Use dictation methods for typing, and voice commands for operations and switching between applications.
3. Position Yourself Properly
Your shoulders and back should never be stressed when you are working on a desk. Make sure that the top of the computer screen is at your eye-level, and your keyboard and mouse are at a comfortable position for you to type and click easily. Your shoulders and back need to be in a relaxed state for you to work with ease. Also, keep your back straight and maintain and erect posture at all times.
