RSI 4U2

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RSI 4U2?

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R S I or how evolution cannot keep up with our
progress
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Subjects
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RSI Repetitive Strain Injury

• Repetitive repeated
• Strain too much tension
• Injury damage
• The RSI syndrome is a collective name
• for complaints from overstraining
• as a result of repeated work

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Direct causes

• Static loadcontinuous (over)straining of the
  muscles in neck, shoulder, arms and fingers
• Dynamic loadRepeated movements in combination
  with extreme postures

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Indirect causes (Risk factors) 5 Ws

• Working times (duration)
• Work pressure (deadlines, stress)
• Work place (furniture, equipment)
• Work method (visual aspects, instructions)
• Work tasks (organising tasks)

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Causes may lead to

• Nerve damage as a result of pressure
• Straining of muscles and tendons
• Complaints are hard to diagnose
• Complaints are very persistent

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RSI complaints in 3 stages

• Light to very serious
• Temporary to permanent
• While working to lasting after work

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Phase 1 Rookie

• Pain during work or after extensive work
• Complaints are local
• Clear relation between work and pain
• Phase 1 can last for years

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Phase 2 Experienced

• Pain radiates
• Pain and tiredness do not disappear entirely
  after work
• Work can become restricted
• Complaints occur during normal daily activities

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Phase 3 Die hards

• Continuous pain even at night
• Pain can transfer to other limbs
• Work can become impossible
• Injury can become permanent
• Even light activities can be very painful

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Complaints

• Tennis elbow, golf elbow
• Inflammation of tendon or tendon sheath
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Painful hand, arm, shoulder and neck
• Mouse arm

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Symptoms

• Early warning signs
• Pain
• Tingling (paraesthesia)
• Loss of control
• Stiffness
• Tiredness and heavy arm(s)

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Neck 20
Elbow6
Shoulder 19
Wrist/hand/fingers 11
(Dutch Labour Inspection examined in 1997, 2000
civil servants.)
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Conclusion

• The problem is real
• THE SOLUTION doesnt exist
• Prevention is better than curing
• Variation in activities
• Awareness of (physical) stress
• Balance in the 5Ws

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The 5 Ws

• Working times (duration)
• Work pressure (deadlines, stress)
• Work place (furniture, equipment)
• Work method (visual aspects, instructions)
• Work tasks (organising tasks)

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Workplace, Posture and Method
Ergonomics Ergon work Nomos rule, law
Learn from yesterday, live for today and hope
for tomorrow. The important thing is to not
stop questioning Albert Einstein
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• People are
• Short or tall
• Thin or thick

Average people do not exist, neither does the
average workplace
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• Chair
• Desk
• Monitor
• Visual aspects
• Posture
• Keyboard
• Mouse

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• 1. Chair
• Seat (height, depth)
• Back (support)
• Armrests (height, width)

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• 2. Desk
• Depth
• Height
• Legroom stretch, turn
• Desktop thickness

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• 3. Monitor
• Top of screen at eye height
• Distance 50 - 70 cm
• Settings
• font size
• colour, contrast, brightness
• refresh rate 70 Hz

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4. Visual aspects
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• 5. Posture
• Straight back
• Relaxed
• Right in front of your monitor
• NOT twisted or turned at your desk

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• 6. Keyboard
• As flat as possible
• Wrists relaxed and straight
• Right in front of you
• No wrist support

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• 7. Mouse
• Motion speed
• Large movements
• Double click speed
• Large (or no) mouse pad (NO wrist support)
• Fingers relaxed
• Shortcut keys

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The ideal work place

• Chair
• Desk
• Monitor
• Visual aspects
• Posture
• Keyboard
• Mouse

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RIGHT?
WRONG?
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RIGHT?
WRONG?
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RIGHT
WRONG

• Do not raise your shoulders
• Relax while working!

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• Never bend forward
• Always keep your back straight

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• Wrong posture (long term)
• Always have your screen straight ahead

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• Keep elbows relaxed
• Keep hands and fingers relaxed

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• Wrist is carrying the weight of the arm
• Caused by leaning forward

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• Keep fingers and wrists relaxed, not bent

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• To much tension in the hands
• Will cause complaints rapidly

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• Exercises to relax Sportswear not required.

• Work pace software
• If you get used to it.. it really helps

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What can YOU do at your workplace

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What can you do by yourself

• Dont skip breaks
• Avoid peak loads
• Variation in activities
• Loosen up from work
• Keep yourself fit

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Workplace consultants

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R S I
can change your life drastically
Questions ?