Slashdot Mirror
Do You Have a PC Posture?
prostoalex writes "PC Magazine takes a look at 'PC posture' and the problems associated with the workstyles of those who spend hours in front of the PC. They talk about proper sitting styles, the erroneous name of 'wrist rest,' monitor height and the need for periodic exercises to help alleviate potential repetitive stress injuries."
I would be careful with this kind of thing, if you use it too much your muscles etc will depend on it, Try to correct your posture your self where possible, there are exercises you can do to help force your back/neck to where it should be but you would need to see a professional to get proper advice about specific excerises.
For me, the absolute most damaging thing I did was work at a company with crappy health insurance, and crappy doctors. (Blue Cross Blue Shield, later Aetna) -
When my lower-back problems first arose, it was nearly impossible to get a doctor to do anything other than "take a couple advil". Next step was "take a couple vicodin". Or unhelpful or obvious advice like "lose some weight" (duh).
My problems got progressively worse year by year. Until last year, when I was hurt so bad I could barely work. Each time I had a hurt, it was extreme pain that would last 8-10 weeks, or more. I'd get x-rays, and the doctor would say there's nothing wrong. Sometimes I'd get chiropractic - which also did nothing to help the long-term problem.
FINALLY, a new doctor talked the insurance company into springing for an MRI. Degenerated L4-L5 disk (at this point, it had already been obvious). They talked about cortisone shots, but freinds I knew who had similar issues weren't helped. I've heard a lot of good things about surgery, where the bulging part of the disk was trimmed. But no doctor would do that unless I was physically impaired to the point where I could not walk, or lost bowel or bladder function. (I shit you not).
So it seemed as if I was doomed to keep experiencing these re-occurring episodes 2 to 3 times a year, with only reactionary treatment available, nothing preventative, nothing that would be a long term cure. Unless I paid for it myself and saw an out-of-network doctor.
I say this now: When the revolution comes, HMO accountants will be the first ones up against the wall. I swear, I will torture those motherfuckers until they beg for mercy. And then I'll keep torturing them.
Now, I had been sent to "physical therapists" before - heat treatments, microwave treatments, ultrasound treatments, traction, massage, etc. ALL a complete fucking waste of time.
Then, I saw one that specialized in sports-medicine, who simply proscribed a series of daily stretching excercise for my gluteals and hamstrings - that, coupled with an ergonomic workstation that allowed me to work standing-up during part of the day, then sitting for part of the day. These two things did more than anything else to help me.
Sit-stand tray and monitor stand.
Hamstring and gluteal stretches.
That's all.
I still have a lot of pain and stiffness, particularly in the morning. And I still get sciatic pinching symptoms like patches of numbness on my leg, or burning sensations. But for the most part, I don't get these injury-episodes anymore where I can barely walk for 8-10 weeks. The stretching is the factor that helps the most. If I had a curious doctor, I suppose I'd go in for another MRI to see if there was any effect on my degenerated disk. But that's never going to happen. Not with my current insurance.
One side-effect, though; I usually stand for about the first four hours of the day, then I sit. But this has started to cause some soreness in my knees and ankles now, and, my mouse-wrist, because of the change-in-angle when I'm standing, so fixing the wrist problem was just a matter of changing my keyboard angle when I go from sit-to-stand, and vice-versa.
I'm hoping that the knee and ankle issues will be relieved, since I began a light weight-training program at the advice of the physical therapist.
These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
The two things that have saved my spine (aside from Dr. LaBreque, my chiropractor) are a really good chair and an articulated monitor arm.
I used to have a standing workstation, but once I started doing long hours (as in 10+) of work at home, that was no longer practical. But for as much as 4-6 hours a day, it’s awesome, especially for gaming. (This is the only point on which I agree with Rummy.)
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
I was 20 when RSI had me in non-stop pain. My best friend developed it in his early twenties. I know a 14-year-old sufferer. It's not just an issue for middle-aged and old people.
He’s got another one (currently in Teh Misteereeus Fyoocher), this time with his name linked to yet another domain. I wonder what that service costs.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
It is only in the past 3000 years that people are living more than 40 years.
Sorry, but that's wrong. Life expectancy may have been 35 or 40, but many individuals has lived twice as long; and those individuals have probably been very important in preliterate societies. In addition, 3000 years is plenty of time for big evolutionary changes.
If your back pain gets so bad that a doctor reccommends "disc fusion" or similar, look into "artificial disc replacement". I first heard about this last year on NPR, but it looks like research and development of this technology has been going on for at least 20 years.
Unfortunately, I think they are still working on the surgical technique - the method described on NPR seemed to indicate that they had to operate from the abdominal side, moving your organs out of the way, to fit the implants in, because from the backside the spinal cord was in the way. Hopefully, by the time you need this they will have the problem solved, and it won't be as "major" of surgery (not that anything involving the spine and surgery isn't major)...
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
I developed an RSI after about one month of working at a job that required me to be at a computer for about 80 hours a week. Most doctors that I've seen tell me it's impossible, but realistically it was likely the straw that broke the camel's back, after a lifetime of gaming, computer use, and being a musician (piano and saxophone). Anyway, after years of struggling with it, I've all but cured my problems by adjusting my posture and exercising regularly. There's really no better solution.
ZuluPad, the wiki notepad on crack
Due to an earlier injury, my cronic back problem as been the limiting factor in my coding productivity.
At last year's MacWorld Expo, I picked up this really need strap like device that goes around my lower back, and front of my knees, then I lean forward and pull it tight, then as I lean back, my lower back gets amazing support. I sometimes feel things getting "adjusted" inside and my chiropractor has mentioned a significant improvement. I can now sit about 3 - 4 hours longer with less discomfort by using this device. I think they used to call it a "Nada Chair", and now I bring it with me wherever I go. It fits inside this nice little pouch and can fit just about anywhere... It was well worth the $40 investment.
I saw it at a booth at Macworld, stopped by to check it out, and they almost had to kick me out of the booth because It felt so good. So I wound up buying it... Good marketing - to make presence in a place full of wimpy nerds allergic to exercises... like a MacWorld Expo...
If you run across something like this and have constant back pain like I do, then you might want to check it out.