🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <92280.075953EWN1@psuvm.psu.edu> <EWN1@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>I've been trying (somewhat unsuccessfully) to maintain better posture at
>work.  The main problem I seem to be encountering is that if I sit up
>straight, if I have to look down at my hands while I'm typing, it hurts
>my neck.  I can touch type text, but when I program, I hit function keys
 
Same problem. And my back ends up aching. I don't know why orthopedists
say it's better to sit straight when my back ends up sore; I must be
doing something wrong.
 
>system.)  I suspect that there isn't any solution to this problem other
>than the obvious (learn how to touch type the keypad keys), but I thought
>I'd ask anyway -- how do other people deal with postural problems at work?
 
Swim. And hope those muscles are strong enough to deal with whatever
silly posture you throw at them. Also, get a really good chair (like
the BodyBilt by Chair Works, 3900 Texas Ave. South, Ste. 107, College Station,
TX 77845, Tel: 409-693-7000, not cheap, but much cheaper than being
unable to work for over 2 months due to RSI). A table at the correct
height also helps.

-- 
Ari Halberstadt  ari@world.std.com  #include <disclaimer.h>  #include <quote.h>

In article <92280.075953EWN1@psuvm.psu.edu> <EWN1@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>I've been trying (somewhat unsuccessfully) to maintain better posture at
>work.  The main problem I seem to be encountering is that if I sit up
>straight, if I have to look down at my hands while I'm typing, it hurts
>my neck.

Hmm... Learning to sit up straight was a pain for me, too.  A good chair
is almost a prerequisite.  You might try looking with your eyes, but keeping
your head still.  You might also try pulling your chin in to look down,
rather than moving your head out.

Also, on DEC keyboards (and most others with function keys, except HP maybe)
the function keys are grouped together into 4 or 5 together with space between
groups.  You can feel for the group, line your fingers up, and go from there.
Eventually, this shouldn't take any more thought than aligning your hands on
home row by feeling for the slight differences in the keys.

You'll find more info in the FAQ, which I should be posting again in a few days.
I totally rewrote the general info section.  It has a fair amount of posture
information in it, now.

Enjoy,

--
Dan Wallach               "One of the most attractive features of a Connection
dwallach@cs.berkeley.edu  Machine is the array of blinking lights on the faces
Office#: 510-642-9585     of its cabinet." -- CM Paris Ref. Manual, v6.0, p48.

In article <1atomiINNng9@agate.berkeley.edu> dwallach@zonker.cs.berkeley.edu (Dan Wallach) writes:
>Hmm... Learning to sit up straight was a pain for me, too.  A good chair
>is almost a prerequisite.  You might try looking with your eyes, but keeping
>your head still.  You might also try pulling your chin in to look down,
>rather than moving your head out.
>

No.  If you start looking down by pulling your chin in, you'll develop 
a problem in the cervical vertebrae.  It's also a good way for making you 
tense up your shoulders and getting tendonitis.  Believe me, pinched neck
and back nerves are *no* fun.  And the likelihood of irritated ulnar and
radial nerves goes up.

When you change the FAQ Dan, make sure that you address the following points:

Wrist pads mainly proctect one from tendonitis caused by tension in the
elbows and shoulders.  They should be used with caution, since supporting
the weight of one's arms on the pad puts pressure on the carpal tunnel and
may help cause nerve damage there.
However, failure to rest one's arms *somewhere* is a sure way of contracting
tendonitis and upper back problems.  The shoulders should be kept loose
and the elbows rested on chair arms, if possible.  In all cases, the wrists
should be held in a neutral position, bending neither up nor down.


-- 
>>>>____ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>All Standard Disclaimers Apply>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 ___\  /	Lee Michele Thompson-Herbert   lee@soda.berkeley.edu   >>>>>
 \  /\/ clueles@ucscb.ucsc.edu  "This is a job for CAPTIAN NAPALM!"  >>>>
  \/Semper Bi   	"Ave Fortuna, Imperatrix Mundi!"           >>>>

In article <1aui3gINNqn5@agate.berkeley.edu> lee@soda.berkeley.edu (Lee Thompson-Herbert) writes:
>
>No.  If you start looking down by pulling your chin in, you'll develop 
>a problem in the cervical vertebrae.  It's also a good way for making you 
>tense up your shoulders and getting tendonitis.  Believe me, pinched neck
>and back nerves are *no* fun.  And the likelihood of irritated ulnar and
>radial nerves goes up.

Curious.  I guess you just shouldn't look down at all, or maybe mix up
how you do it.  You can hurt yourself by repeating just about *any* motion.

>Wrist pads mainly proctect one from tendonitis caused by tension in the
>elbows and shoulders.  They should be used with caution, since supporting
>the weight of one's arms on the pad puts pressure on the carpal tunnel and
>may help cause nerve damage there.
>However, failure to rest one's arms *somewhere* is a sure way of contracting
>tendonitis and upper back problems.  The shoulders should be kept loose
>and the elbows rested on chair arms, if possible.  In all cases, the wrists
>should be held in a neutral position, bending neither up nor down.

Well, as far as I can tell, there is no consensus opinion on wrist pads or
support devices.  About all that I can say for a fact: one of the later
stages of physical/occupational therapy is often weight training, to build
up all your muscles.  If you've got strong enough arms, you should be just
fine without any supports, GIVEN PROPER POSTURE, rest breaks, etc..  Chair
arms are another one of those weird things.  The majority of chair arms
are all wrong for typing.  Some of the really expensive chairs have
height-adjustable arms with nice squishy padding.  I personally can't
stand any hard-plastic or metal chair arms.

Also, you mention "a neutral position" for your wrists.  I hope you realize
that a truly neutral position would have your thumb significantly higher
than your pinky -- a handshake is a neutral position!  Remember: wrists
bend in more than one direction.

Dan
--
Dan Wallach               "One of the most attractive features of a Connection
dwallach@cs.berkeley.edu  Machine is the array of blinking lights on the faces
Office#: 510-642-9585     of its cabinet." -- CM Paris Ref. Manual, v6.0, p48.

The alternative is to have what's called a Dynamic Seating posture.  That is
change your seating position every half hour or so, get up and down, stretch
or stretch at frequent intervals.  This is based on the principle that no
position is the best if it's held for too long.
-- 
  _--_|\             -|-    Gavin Walker
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 \_.--.*/ <- Canberra,      Walker@csis.dit.csiro.au
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