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Computers and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Studied
pioneer writes "An article on MSNBC.com reports that a Danish study has found that computer use is not a significant risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome. Not sure about you, but I spent a lot of time learning dvorak and kinesis to prevent just that... the 'inevitable' onslaught of RSI/carpal tunnel/etc."
I never said CTS was RSI. I simply stated that I disgree with the notion that repetitive motion doesn't lead to repetitive stress injury. CTS is a type of RSI, they claim typing (a highly repetitive action) does not necessarily cause CTS. That's pretty much saying repetition is not associated with RSI. Please read more carefully.
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That's not to say that there isn't people there with wrist pain, from various sources, but the reification in this case is terribly misleading. There is simply no such sickness, no matter how many pages of nonsense have been written about it. That's it. You are far more likely to develop different aches from stress and general unhappiness than from any use of mouse and keyboard.
If you think that simple negation without proof is not enough, I'll put the burden of proof on the people that affirm that it exists. Check for yourself the evidence, flimsy is too "firm" a workd for it. Usually are those who affirm that something exists the ones that have to prove its existence (with some exceptions, see WMD, Irak).
Rome taught me patience and assiduous application to detail. Virtues which temper the boldness of great, general views.
The motions of using a keyboard don't cause problems in many people, but the keys and mouse can cause problems similar to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in some.
It's people who are intolerant to the plastic, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and "tingely" fingers are but a symptom of that intolerance.
It has little to do with repetive motion at all, but "experts" don't appear to be paying any attention at all to this.
I noticed this happening to me about five or six years ago, and frankly, I didn't believe for a second that I was "contracting" Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from my keyboarding motions.
Why? Because I've had many jobs which "experts" say should cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, but I've never had any symptoms of it, until I started using my keyboard and mouse quite a bit more (thanks to the WWW).
I looked for any reason that could be causing my sometimes severe wrist pain, and the only thing that made sense was the plastic keys/mouse.
So I bought a thin pair of cotton gloves and started using them.
Surprise! No more "Carpal Tunnel" pain!
Since this "Eureka" moment, I've shared my findings whih many people whom have "Carpal Tunnel" pain.
The few who do try using cotton gloves, find that their "Carpal Tunnel" pain is GONE.
Make of this info what you will, but I do hope that it will prevent someone from having unnecessary surgery.
If it don't GO... chrome it. ~ Frank Banks