I get a large number of people asking me which mouse will help relieve the pain of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) when using a computer. I only wish I could help them.

Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI is a term that encompasses a wide variety of conditions but is not an actual diagnosis. Its like the expression “sports injury” it could be a twisted ankle or a bump on the head!

So whilst I’d like to say “take this pill and call me in the morning”, this won’t solve the problem. Many doctors will recommend that you stop repeating the activity, that is causing the strain and ultimately resulting in the injury.

For most of us advice that involves a complete career change that excludes use of a computer is unrealistic so in fact there are only two practical options; avoid getting the problem in the first place, or develop a means of managing it so that you can still work on a computer.

Avoidance is obviously the best plan. As anyone with RSI will tell you, it is a miserable experience and has a shocking impact on your working life.

Whether you are already suffering from RSI or want to ensure you take the right steps to prevent the injury, the following tips can help you work on a computer without suffering.

1. Adjust your working area to suit you - not the other way around.

2. Ensure your equipment is correctly placed for comfortable working.

3. Start with your posture and invest in a good adjustable chair. It might seem expensive but is less costly than back treatment and much less painful

4. Adjust your desk to the most suitable height for your own comfort. This is not the same thing as what your chair will allow. You can do this by placing wooden blocks under the feet or cutting it down if its too high. Height adjustable desks are probably an easier option.

5. Get a fully adjustable, Goldtouch keyboard. These are quite simply the best, You can read up on why by Googling “Goldtouch keyboard”

6. Get another mouse or even better get two, and keep the one you have. Keep switching between them so that you minimise the repetition. Get different ones, a trackball might feel a bit strange at first but you will get used to it. Vertical mice help a great deal to reduce twisting or pronation in the wrist

7. Get a document holder and position it over and behind your keyboard. The key feature is that you want to keep all your work in a straight line head up position

8. Place your monitor at eyelevel and at a reasonable distance. Monitor arms are excellent for this and also free up space on your desk. If you use a laptop screen make sure you position it the right height and always use an external keyboard and mouse.

9. Always use RSIGuard Software. This is an absolute essential. Don’t think it can’t happen to you. RSIGuard is a very simple software package that will show you how your behaviour is hurting you.

10. Make changes now. Your body can handle a lot of abuse, but when it gives up - you are in big trouble, and the road back is painful and slow. Some people never recover.

Paul Goddard is an Education Officer at Keytools and a well known RSI expert. He claims that RSI problems are easily preventable and his company, Keytools provides assistive technology for people with RSI including the RSIGuide software for prevention of RSI

Tags: Arthritis

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