Typing Injuries
As our nation continues its transition into a service-based economy, more and more jobs these days revolve around the daily use of a computer. Ergonomics, or the branch of scientific study that deals with the human body in a work environment, is therefore increasingly focused on proper posture and hand-position over a keyboard.
Repetitive stress injuries, or RSIs, are some of the most common workplace ailments that ergonomics seeks to prevent and remedy. Caused by the overuse of a particular joint, RSIs often result from playing video games or musical instruments for extended periods as well. Some major examples of RSIs that can arise from typing work include:
- Carpal Tunnel - probably the most well-known RSI, carpal tunnel syndrome affects the bones and ligaments of the wrist, and generally leads to a combination of pain, numbness, and tingling sensation.
- Tendonitis and Tendinosis - these complications are frequently associated with certain sports, such as tennis, in which the wrist is subject to repeated motions over a prolonged period.
- Ganglion Cyst - in this condition, a lump or slight swelling occurs in the wrist as the result of a gelatinous substances leaking from a joint or tendon.
Tips for preventing RSIs
Although they have become extremely commonplace, RSIs are easily preventable given good ergonomic habits, such as:
- Always sitting up straight
- Never tensing up the shoulder muscles
- Ensuring proper leg position, with feet flat on the ground and legs and hips fully perpendicular to the spine
- Taking regular pauses in your work to stretch out, or “ergo” breaks
- Adjusting chair height, monitor position, and keyboard angle so that all your typing actions are as comfortable and natural as possible
Contact Us
If you have experienced a typing-related injury or another form of RSI, and you think someone else’s negligence might be in some way at fault, contact the experienced Kenosha personal injury lawyers at the law offices of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C., at 800-242-2874.