Avoiding Tunnel Carpal Syndrome and RSI

[Jason Porthouse]

Nicholas,

Aeron chairs – brilliant. I have two, bought second-hand off eBay after all the dotcoms realised that the money they spent on fancy furniture could’ve kept a small nation afloat for a year. Their loss and all that.

Anyway, can’t fault them, very comfortable – the only snag is they’re a bit heavy to take from job to job, so I only do that if I’m there for a fortnight or more. Built like tanks too.

Kneeler chairs are OK, if you spend a lot on a good one. Avoid the cheapo ones, they tend not to be designed as ‘ergonomically’.

I had the beginnings of RSI earlier this year – worrying as it really stopped me from being able to work. It was surprising how painful holding a mouse was. I bought a Wacom tablet (Intuos A6 Wide) and along with my chair it has been one of the best purchases I made. It’ really is IMHO a no-brainer. Once you’ve used one you’ll never want to go back to the mouse.

HTH,

Jason

_________________________________

Before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes.
Then when you do criticise him, you’ll be a mile away. And have his shoes.

*the artist formally known as Jaymags*

[Walter Biscardi]

I only edit with WACOM tablets. editing with a mouse definitely makes my wrists start to hurt pretty quickly.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

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[Michael]

You are right to be concerned now, before you get injured. Ten years ago I had a pinched nerve in my neck and the beginnings of carpal tunnel syndrome. It was all very painful.

Here’s what I suggest (and helped me)

1. as mentioned above,get a WACOM tablet.

2. Lower your keyboard. VERY important. It should be lower than standard desk height (this is one reason keyboard drawers are made.).The higher the keyboard, the more your shoulders and neck hunch up. Lowering the keyboard relaxes those muscles, and opens up the vertebrae in your neck. This makes a huge difference because if the vertebre are squeezed together, a nerve that runs down your arm and through the carpal tunnel is pinched. It’s all connected.

3. Adjust your chair and monitor height for maximum comfort and back relaxation.

Good luck.

[Aaron Neitz]

Yep, Wacom all the time for every application. A mouse will turn your wrist into ground beef in less than a week.

Something that REALLY helped my neck and shoulders was buying two new 23″ Apple Cinemas for my computer. All of a sudden I could SEE my screens better and wasn’t hunching up over my desk squinting at everything. Didn’t even realize I was doing it. Blaming my problems on my desk height and my Aeron chair. Coming from some old (and in their day very expensive) 18″ Sony LCDs – I think a combo of the much improved contrast ratio and brightness did the trick.

[Nicholas Bierzonski]

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I’ve been surfing the web checking out your recommendations. For sure I will be buying Wacom Tablet. I will probably go with an Aeron chair because I will use it constantly and save my body infinite problems down the road.

“If you dont’ have your health…you don’t have anything.”

Thanks Again!

-Nicholas Bierzonski
Editor/DVD Author/Java Boy
http://www.finalfocusvideo.com

[Steven Gonzales]

I haven’t moved to the tablet yet (though probably will soon), but two things have helped me:

I use an ergonomic mouse from 3m:

https://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/ergonomics/home/products/ergonomicmouse/

I started a regular yoga practice, which has helped immensely (no more RSI problems). Here’s some stretches of the same type, though I really recommend an experienced teacher.

https://www.will-harris.com/yoga/rsi.html

[Jason Porthouse]

Nicholas,

Make sure you get the Intuos – the cheaper Graphire and Bamboos are OK for occasional use but you won’t put it down once you’ve got the hang of it.

Have a look at eBay – lots of secondhand Aerons there, might save a packet (though they are VERY cheap in the States compared with the UK – we pay around $1800 for a new basic chair!!)

Further to Stevens suggestion, if youhave a partner buy them a massage course. Convince them that a weekly session is essential for any editor and standard practise across the industry… well you can try can’t you?

Jason

_________________________________

Before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes.
Then when you do criticise him, you’ll be a mile away. And have his shoes.

*the artist formally known as Jaymags*