Workplace ergonomics & desk exercises are necessary to reduce the effect of the silent plague of the 21st Century – Repetitive Strain Injury
Can a harmless mouse and keyboard inflict painful injuries?
Recently I was a guest at a lecture given by an ergonomic specialist for some 200 Investment Bankers and their staff at their headquarters. The speaker listed the most common computer injuries such as upper and lower back-pain, neck and shoulder pain, or painful wrists, and then turned towards his audience and asked how many have experienced one or more of those complaints. About a quarter of the bankers lifted their hands. A young participant stood up and said to the ergonomic specialist: “If you want the true answer you should phrase your question in a different way”, she turned to her colleagues and asked: “Is there anyone in this room who did not suffer from one or more of those complaints?” No one raised a hand. Why did 75% of the bankers choose not to raise their hands if they all had experienced some form of computer injury?
Computer injuries are by definition to Repetitive Strain Injury RSI. They are not accidents...