The office, while seemingly a calm and peaceful environment, can also play host to a number of potential disasters waiting to strike at any moment. Getting an injury at work can range from having a filing cabinet hit a hapless passerby’s head, getting electrocuted due to faulty wiring, or even something as simple as bad posture and ergonomics at the workstation. Yes, even sitting down and using the computer can wreak havoc on the body if posture and hand movement are done incorrectly.
The hand is an important part of the body. If it is damaged it would be hard to manipulate things, which is essential in day-to-day living. However, problems like Repetitive Stress Disorder that comes from constant abuse of the hand and arm can limit such movement. Proper care should be ensured so that the hand will be fit enough to move at its fullest capacity at all times.
Repetitive Stress Disorder (RSI) is an umbrella term for hand-related problems like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Trigger Finger. As the name implies, the cause of this disorder is rooted in repetitive movements involving a specific set of joints and muscles. For instance, one of the most commonly affected areas is the carpal tunnel which is found in the wrist and protects the median nerve. This nerve gives feeling to the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers. When the nerve is stressed due to pressure from repeated movement by the tendons and ligaments, it can lead to pain or numbness.
Common symptoms of RSI include tightness, discomfort, stiffness, soreness or burning in the hands, wrists, forearms or elbows, tingling or numbness in the thumb or hand, clumsiness or loss of strength in the hands, pain in the neck, back or arms. If left untreated, these affected joints may eventually suffer from irritation, inflammation, pain, and at worst arthritis, bone spurs and other permanent, debilitating damage.
Sitting for hours in front of computer is a good way to cultivate these symptoms in the long run if done improperly. Typing on a badly-angled keyboard, slouching or maintaining rigid posture or keeping a stiff hand on the mouse are a few ways to aggravate the damage. Each of them, including simply reaching for a distant mouse, can stress the neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, and lower and middle back, a good recipe for a hand injury at work.
There are many products available that can deal with poor posture and joint alignment, like ergonomic keyboards and such. However, it is best to take this with a pinch of salt. Various ergonomic products can help alleviate the stress from the joints and prevent any further injury at work, but they won’t do much good if the product is placed where it is difficult to reach. To maximize the potency of these products, it is best to place them in more accessible regions of the workstation and to take breaks in between jobs to refresh the body and relax the joints before they settle back to work.
