Anyone here worried about developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or has anyone suffered from this? Are there techniques or exercises to offset pain or problems with the mouse wrist?
"Art -- the one achievement of Man which has made the long trip up from all fours seem well advised." - James Thurber
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i have not suffered but you might find some info here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome
16 billion colours and you choose the one i cant create !??!
Excercise regularly. Sports that make your wrists stronger include: judo, bjj, tennis, kettlebells, fencing and more..
Brochure Printing by 10th Way
*insert wrist exercise joke*
Seriously though you also might want to switch to a light pen, Since I've made the change I've never gone back.
Leaky Penny
Check out what I've been up to lately!
http://petersonjoseph.com
I'm going to print it out and eat it.
-Unknown Artist
Try a tablet! It's a relief!
I've seen a lot of people advocating full time light-pen/tablet use and am considering the switch.
My questions would be:
* How useable is it for work that requires regular keyboard access (website development/design or work that requires a lot of typesetting for example)?
* Do you still use keyboard shortcuts (ie, does the tablet take over both hands)?
* What did you find the biggest challenges in switching to the pen?
And finally:
What tablet would you currently recommend for the designer on a budget (is there any other kind)?
How useable is it for work that requires regular keyboard access (website development/design or work that requires a lot of typesetting for example)?
Slightly less convenient than a mouse, because releasing a mouse is simpler than putting a pen into its holder. But I noticed many keep the pen in hand and type that way. Works for me because i don't type with all 10.
Do you still use keyboard shortcuts (ie, does the tablet take over both hands)?
Tablets has modifier keys, scrolling and such, but I never use them. I use the keyboard for shortcuts as with the mouse.
What did you find the biggest challenges in switching to the pen?
You need to give your hand and brain time to get used to it. You should use both the pen and mouse for a couple of weeks. Gradually you will move to the pen without effort. First you will find the pen is less precise than the mouse, but later it will be as precise as the mouse but you will also enjoy the instant movement from one part of the screen to the other, instead of the dragging motion.
What tablet?
Not bigger than A5 active area. Maybe A6 or A6+ is the best. Wacoms are good. Worth to invest. It's the most important object in your professional life.
Ivan you use your tablet exactly the way I use mine. I'm sure all the extra features would become impossible to live without, but I just find myself not needing them at all.
Mama, using a tablet really does provide the kind of variety you need to avoid Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other wrist/forearm trouble. One thing you should try to do, though, whether you get a tablet or not, is to elevate your wrist s you work. I use this thing:
You can even use a rolled-up face towel, undershirt, whatever. If nothing else, take frequent breaks, shake out, stretch. Study the ergonomic Web sites that address this subject.
I hope you haven't already hurt yourself. It can take months to recover from a full-blown CTS "attack."
Mara
I put an small auxiliar table in front of mice/tablet to suspend my elbow. It's good because I use for other needs like scanner, papers, pencils, etc
or try something like this one:
yes I'm brazilian xD
That's really cool! Where'd you find it?
Mara
I'm from Brazil :P sorry my poor english.
When I was young (not so long :P) I worked for big companies here and all of them uses this kind of shapes to prevent ergonomic diseases because the affected employees can stay a year at home by law and it's not good for the companies hehe
The shape is cushioned and fit easily at any table
look http://www.seton.com.br/aanew/produtos/detalhe_mc.asp?sitegrpid=25&merchandisecodeid=X570&clickmenu=m%5B0%5D
yes I'm brazilian xD
Thanks for the information Ivan - I'm sold! I'm going to give an A6 wacom a go for the next couple of weeks and see how it works out.
One problem I've noticed over the years is it seems like everyone who wears the wrist bandage has their mouse set to very slow movement which requires more work. My mouse is set to the fast speed available - that means a much shorter wrist movement to jump across the entire screen. So far, no wrist problems for me (not even temporary pain).
That's a good suggestion, too. Back when mice were less sophisticaed than they are, I remember having a lot more trouble than I do now. And for years, I swore by my Kensington Turbomouse (trackball), but the constrained movements and pressure it required were probably dangerous.
Mara
"Paddle faster, I hear banjos."
Just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how happy this makes me whenever I see it :-)
Mara
I have a friend who is really suffering from this in both her wrists. It's hard for me to imagine, but it is debilitating. She was told to take six weeks off from work to allow her wrists to recover. She started back yesterday and the pain came right back. Such a bummer.
Remember mouse use isn't the only culprit - keyboard use can add to the problems as well.
I work on an ergonomic keyboard with a wrist rest. And, I've been told a good preventative measure is to take one of those stiff rubber bands that you find around broccoli or asparagus at the grocery store and put it around your fingers then flex and open your fingers with the band around them - do it once a day on each hand for 10 reps. I guess the issue is that with carpal tunnel, most of our movements with our fingers is a pushing movement... so you train the tiny muscles with some resistance from the band by opening them. Not sure that made much sense at all. I'm trying it. Worth a shot, and it's not extremely disruptive to do.
Frequent breaks are a good idea, too.
I had fairly sever carpal tunnel, enough to cause shooting pains into my forearm. Doing all the normal wrist exercises described online has helped keep it in check without surgery. Also applying ice to my wrist a few times a day for a few minutes really helped. None of them were over night improvements, but they have helped.
WRONG elbow position:
OK:
yes I'm brazilian xD
WRONG: the elbow is below hand level
OK: the elbow line could stay above but relaxed
yes I'm brazilian xD
Thank you for all of the ergo info...much appreciated. I have to date been using a Kensington Turbo Mouse with my elbow positioned as above (elbow on chair level with mouse). However lately, I've been experiencing discomfort in my right wrist that I would like to address sooner than later--sorry to hear about your pain, visual28.
I have been reviewing the Wacom tablets and will be purchasing one within the next couple of weeks...something to play with and learn over this year's holidays. And I also LOVE that table idea--thank you, qwertyale...your English is quite good and your visuals helpful.
Cheers.
3dog
"Art -- the one achievement of Man which has made the long trip up from all fours seem well advised." - James Thurber
My actual desktop :P
Look my elbow on auxiliar table
the key point is how you adjust the chair height :]
yes I'm brazilian xD
Clean your room young man!
Leaky Penny
Check out what I've been up to lately!
http://petersonjoseph.com
I'm going to print it out and eat it.
-Unknown Artist
mbp has only 3 USB ports... I need more. that's why I have a lot of cables on my desk. : ]
yes I'm brazilian xD
Here's my config.. I bought my table from Ikea because it has the edge that curves around so I can put my elbow on it. I also stick a tshirt under my arm. I switch back and fourth from mouse to tablet. As mentioned above, it is hard to get used to at first. But it definitely makes your wrist feel better. Also, get a medium sized tablet as the bigger the tablet is the more your arm has to move around. Although, you can customize the area of the tablet that is used.
WOW your table is exactly what we want! :)
I think another key point is change the pointer after some hours.
Actual tablets aren't so good for web browsing. Multitouch/Mouse is better.
I think the NEW multitouch Wacom makes difference for who don't use Macbooks or Magic Mouse.
I alternatvely use: mice / tablet / multitouch each one for 1-2 hours :]
yes I'm brazilian xD
I have yet to try converting to a tablet + keyboard only solution, but I highly recommend the Kensington Trackball over regular mouse use. It has really helped me. I have an older model of the trackpad below.
http://us.kensington.com/html/2200.html
Don't ask me why I don't have one at work yet...
Hi there,
Stumbled across this post in my RSS reader: this post/video from a blog at which I am a contributing author should really help you out a lot: http://lawyerist.com/friday-exercise-break-forearm-exercises-that-really-work/
Also, I use Wacom's Bamboo Tablet instead of a mouse to navigate the web. Helps me out a lot.
Good luck!
Wow - all the gadgets. Over the years I've tried just about everything and here I end up with nothing except a standard Apple (all button) mouse wearing out a spot on my desk because I don't even use a mousepad anymore. :-)
No I have not such kind of problem .Even I never heard about this. But I want to be aware about this.
Don't think about Treatments, Treatment and medicine are not at all a remedy for this. Find the cause and do necessary to it.
The Cause is absalutely WRONG ELBOW POSITIONING.
So see the above referances for right elbow positioning.
Apple users suffer from this crapol tunnel at a higher rate than others!
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
http://stevefakeballmer.wordpress.com/
I am not Steve Ballmer pretending not to be me!
yes I'm brazilian xD
LOL!
"Art -- the one achievement of Man which has made the long trip up from all fours seem well advised." - James Thurber
I've been comboing it up lately and the pain has disappeared. Now using a tablet, laptop, and turbo mouse....so far so good...
"Art -- the one achievement of Man which has made the long trip up from all fours seem well advised." - James Thurber