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Healthy computing
Introduction
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and Upper Limb Disorder (ULD) are now the most common cause of injury at work affecting over half a million people in the UK, with 4.2million work days lost a year.
The standard QWERTY keyboard was designed for trained touch-typists aware of the importance of correct posture and hand/arm movement. Today, a high percentage of users are self-taught or non touch-typists, who aren't aware of the dangers and may have developed bad habits.
No matter what you do with a computer it is important that you take time to ensure that you are working comfortably and do not let minor irritations and discomfort lead into something more serious.
Above: Prolonged incorrect use of a keyboard and mouse can lead to an upper limb disorder.
Some basic tips
- sit properly: check the upper arms are not extended forwards, the forearms are horizontal and the fingers are at the same height as the middle row of keys
- avoid dropping the wrists down on the desk whilst typing
- avoid resting your wrists on a wrist-wrest whilst typing
- learn to touch-type to avoid constantly looking between keyboard and screen
- avoid hitting the keys heavily: practice using a soft typing style
- learn the keyboard shortcuts to reduce use of the mouse
If this brief introduction has whet your appetite you may be interested in the following resources: