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Improper Computer Usage Can Have Harmful Effects
Alex Jensen
March 9, 2002
As today's world becomes increasingly computer-oriented, we begin to understand that there are serious health problems that are being caused by regular, improper computer usage.
Many sites on the Internet offer in-depth information on computer related injury and computer ergonomics. Such sites include:
www.rsihelp.com/compcurr_981006.shtml
www.nightcats.com/samples/injury.html
www.engr.unl.edu/ee/eeshop/rsi.html
www.onsightergo.com/articles/initialarticle.html
Ergonomics covers al aspects of a job, from the physical stresses to environmental factors that can affect hearing, vision, general comfort and health. By ensuring that your work area is ergonomically correct, you can prevent many health problems.
Some computer-related injuries include: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Repetitive Strain Injury, Cumulative Trauma Disorder, eye damage, stress, tendonitis and the list goes on and on.
Thankfully there are many ways to prevent such injuries.
First of all, you should check your posture while you use the computer. Elbows should be bent at approximately 90 degrees so that your forearms are parallel with the floor. Make sure that your wrists are not bent up or down or to the sides and form a relatively straight line with your forearms. Make sure to be sitting up straight with both feet resting on the floor. Increasing the text size on your monitor also helps to prevent eyestrain.
Be wary of so called "ergonomically correct" keyboards, arm rests, mice, and chairs, especially if they have not been tested in research conditions. Some of these "ergonomic" devices have not been proven to be significantly helpful, and many actually make the condition worse.
Perhaps the simplest, yet most overlooked method of prevention is taking short, frequent breaks to stretch and relax your muscles. Every 15 minutes, get up, take a walk, get a drink, stretch and just get away from the computer. It may seem like a waste of time now, but taking breaks actually increases productivity. Taking breaks will make you feel better, and as a result, can save you time correcting mistakes from fatigue.
You may be wondering, "Why didn't people using typewriters have the same problems?"
Well, the answer lies in the mechanics of the typewriter itself. People using typewriters had to load the paper, stop and correct mistakes, move the cartridge over and get up to go to the filing cabinet. These small breaks prevented injury, because they weren't spending prolonged hours at the desk. Also, the more pressure it took to press the keys on a typewriter balanced the load over more and larger muscles. The new soft-touch keyboards only require the use of the fingers, putting more strain on fewer, smaller muscles.
In short, 10 minutes and $10 now to ensure things are ergonomically correct can save you 10 years of your life that you won't have to spend in pain. Basically, prevention is the key!
Alex Jensen is the Community Access Program member operating from the Kintore branch of the Oxford County Library.
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