Your Handheld or Your Health?

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.jsonline.com/bym/tech/news/may05/322996.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.jsonline.com/bym/tech/ne...ay05/322996.asp</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Several doctors say the BlackBerry bears too much blame for techie tendinitis. Most people sending mobile e-mail also type on desktop computers somewhere, sometimes on laptops, too. All that typing - if done improperly - can contribute to repetitive stress injuries. But experts say typing on handheld devices can push latent injuries over the edge and further aggravate them. Users often hold their wrists in awkward positions while hunching over and craning their necks to see the small script."</i><br /><br />There's no denying that for the majority of you reading this now, you either own a handheld or have used a handheld before. Granted, we've posted on RSI (repetitive strain/stress injuries) before, but there seem to be more and more articles of it appearing on the internet that it's almost worth another discussion to see what your take on the whole situation is, and whether it's getting better (or worse) for you, especially since mobile devices are increasing in popularity. JS Online talk about a few Blackberry scenarios - users getting aches and pains from all that thumbboard-typing. However, we all know it's not just limited to the simple Blackberry. Quite a few Pocket PCs have thumbboards - some include the HP iPAQ h6310, the i-mate PDA2K, and the BenQ P50. If you continually tap-type using an onscreen-keyboard, then I'm sure a couple of you are also experiencing a bit of RSI. Yet amongst all the aches and pains, this is the price we've had to pay for mobility. So if you suffer from the odd case of RSI from continually using your Pocket PC (or any other handheld for that matter), just what are you doing to combat it? Please pick an appropriate poll option and feel free to leave a comment.<br /><br /><b>UPDATE:</b> If you have RSI problems, you may want to check out <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,9806">this article that Jason wrote in 2003</a>.

[Jacob]

I said other just because you can keep from getting RSI from making sure you get enough exercise in those muscles other than using your PDA/blackberry/etc..

Use a stress-ball to squeeze, lift weights even...plus keep conscious of ergonomics.

[hamishmacdonald]

Sorry, I know people are always whingeing about the poll options, but I had to answer "Other" for this one, because the poll question implies that RSI is inevitable.

I've been using electronic devices -- PDAs or PCs -- with a keyboard, for about eight years solid, and have never had a twinge of an RSI.

So that's my two pence: While I don't contend that some people have this condition, I think recent news items may be scrounging for something new to worry people with.

I'm still waiting for my mobile phone tumour to arrive.

[Don Tolson]

I'm with Hamish... even at my advanced age, I haven't had any problem with RSI in all the years I've been using keyboards, pdas, etc.

I do have to stretch my fingers, etc. after a couple of hours of continuous typing, but I've never (touch wood) had to be treated for any long standing, chronic problem.

[rmasinag]

Honestly, the only time I can recall having RSI is playing Morrowind for 3 days at 8hrs/day.


Also, last week when I had to write so much crap for my exam in psychology. I hate essay exams!


Even when typing 15 page papers, I take a break every 45 min or so, cause I have short attention span too :mrgreen:

So... I pick impervious

[KTamas]

Sorry, I know people are always whingeing about the poll options, but I had to answer "Other" for this one, because the poll question implies that RSI is inevitable.

I've been using electronic devices -- PDAs or PCs -- with a keyboard, for about eight years solid, and have never had a twinge of an RSI.

So that's my two pence: While I don't contend that some people have this condition, I think recent news items may be scrounging for something new to worry people with.

I'm still waiting for my mobile phone tumour to arrive.
I'm using comps since about 5-6 yrs, and PDAs abut 1 yr...no health probs so far (okay, after 14+hours continous time at the computer minus resting room minus food :D my eyes starts to be tired :P).

[g0097]

I use a keyboard with my pocket pc the majority of time I have to do anything that is beyond five words long. The muscles in my arm have hurt once or twice from typing too much, but so far I have had nothing cronic.


I remember I had a Psion Netbook. I loved the form factor of that machine to death!! But, the keyboard, although it was great, was just a little too cramped for my large hands. I almost had to cry after extended typing on that thing! I eventually gave it up but I still forget the pain and remember the great design every now and then.....memories....

[Jason Dunn]

I said other just because you can keep from getting RSI from making sure you get enough exercise in those muscles other than using your PDA/blackberry/etc...

The problem is that once you've trashed your muscles and scar tissue has been built up, no amount of exercise will help. It's also difficult to find common exercises that target the correct muscles. But I agree completely that preventing RSI is important, and exercise is a critical part of that.

[Jason Dunn]

I'd encourage anyone who sufferes from RSI to give this a read. It might help point you in the right direction:

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,9806

[Jason Dunn]

So that's my two pence: While I don't contend that some people have this condition, I think recent news items may be scrounging for something new to worry people with.

You should consider yourselft very fortunate! If you look at the poll results, meagre though they may be, it would seem to indicate that 50% of people have RSI problems, or at least enough of a problem that they feel they are combatting it.

Something interesting:
http://www.usenix.org/publications/library/proceedings/lisa98/invited_talks/okamoto_html/sld007.htm

I think if you were go to around to any large office you'd find at least 30% of the people there with some type of RSI problem. My wife started a job a few months back where's she's typing most of the day. Within three months she was complaining of burning sensations in her forearms. RSI is very real, and to treat it as anything less than a serious problem is silly. Those stupid Aspirin commercials tick me off, where the woman complains her arms are on fire and they say 'Take an Aspirin" as if it was the real solution. :roll:

[ctmagnus]

I was using computers for ten years solid with nary a twinge of pain. Then I started taking a keyboarding course to learn to type properly (becasue the speed I had built up over the ten years of doing it my own way wasn't good enough for some people :roll:) and I started developing RSI problems.

[dean_shan]

For me I make sure I have proper posture. If I don't starting to uses the computer starts to hurt and I have to move to a new position. Posture is a biggie, if you are sitting wrong you will get RSI over time.

[Eowyn]

Many years ago I realised I had a potential RSI problem in my right wrist - brought about by an addiction to MineSweeper. So every time it re-occurs, after excessive mouse usage, I switch to using the mouse with my left hand, and start sitting up straighter again.

I was shocked when I realised that tapping on the screen of my PDA also could cause my wrist to hurt. So, I've taken to using my left hand to tap when playing games and when entering informatoin when I'm not under time pressure. That isn't easy, because I am strongly right-handed.

[Ken Mattern]

I've been using a keyboard since 1968. I've been using Pocket PCs since they were introduced. Three years ago I had an ulnar transposition - that is they moved my funny bone (the ulnar nerve) to another spot. I had tremors in my right hand (I couldn't hold a martini glass by the rim with my right hand), numbness in the hand and arm, etc. Though I am better I still have problems. Last March I was injured on the same arm. Now I can't play golf because the pain is too severe and the tremors are back.

[Bajan Cherry]

15 years of programming, I never had any problems, but ever since I started using laptops for most of my computing, I have now joined the club of RSI sufferers. Even now that I am typing this, my fingers, my shoulders and elbows are hurting :( . Some Yogic exercises do help in this case, but only for a while.

[Jason Dunn]

For all of you who are suffering from RSI problems, if my advice means the slightest to you, seek out a chiropractor that practices ART therapy. I can't promise miracles, but it helped me in a HUGE way. I'm not "cured" - if I don't stretch and overwork myself without breaks RSI problems come back - but I'm no longer suffering like I was before.

[Kati Compton]

15 years of programming, I never had any problems, but ever since I started using laptops for most of my computing, I have now joined the club of RSI sufferers. Even now that I am typing this, my fingers, my shoulders and elbows are hurting :( . Some Yogic exercises do help in this case, but only for a while.

I have read (and I agree with this), that actually using the laptop in the lap helps with typing position. However, especially for tall people that may cause neck pain. So I would suggest getting a laptop stand that tilts the laptop and using it on the desk. Basically, if the keyboard is lower than your forearms at a 90 degree angle, you want it tilted away from you. If it's higher, you want it tilted towards you. All this is to keep your wrists straight.

Making sure that I have proper keyboard use has kept me from having significant problems. Every time I'm forced to use an improperly aligned keyboard for long periods, I get pain either in my shoulders or wrists. (This goes for mouse location as well!). My husband used to have to wear a wrist brace periodically, but ever since I made him get a keyboard drawer that was also wide enough to fit the mouse pad, he's been mostly okay. No sense in having proper wrist position for the keys but not for the mouse!

As for what I do with my PDA - whenever my wrist or shoulder or hand gets a little tired, I switch positions (sometimes more often). If it starts to hurt, I stop using it and go use my computer instead. But that doesn't happen very often.

[Darius Wey]

For all of you who are suffering from RSI problems, if my advice means the slightest to you, seek out a chiropractor that practices ART therapy.

Jason, what do you mean by ART? In medicine, it commonly refers to "Assisted Reproductive Technology". I'm sure that's not what you're referring to, right? 8O

Edit: No wait, reading that article again brought back a few reminders. ART = Active Release Technique. :oops:

[Darius Wey]

I think if you were go to around to any large office you'd find at least 30% of the people there with some type of RSI problem.

Agreed, and very few people do something about it. I own a few Microsoft keyboard/mice at home, and one of the things that I like about the IntelliPoint/IntellType drivers is the inclusion of the Healthy Computing Guide. I can't stress how many times I've seen people disregard this altogether, but every now and again, I take the time to sit down and read what it says. It certainly is a great refresher. I don't suffer from RSI, but it's something I take into important consideration, because I'd rather prevent it from occurring, than allowing it to occur and having to manage it later. And as lame as it may sound, I appreciate Microsoft's attempts to include this simple guide in their drivers. Kudos!