I doubt this would help people having repetitive-strain/use problems. If the keyboard is nearly zero force than you're doing all kinds of work holding your fingers up and extended, rather than letting them rest on the keys and giving an extra "push" when you want to type something. The back of the wrist and the back of the hand can get very sore from this.
This method helps people learn to move without pain -- to move more efficiently, elegantly and pleasurably. It works using specific patterns of gentle movements that have the effect of giving the nervous system a chance to learn more efficient and pleasant ways of moving the body. Gradually, these become your habits, replacing the older ones that cause pain, limitations and discomfort.
The method is named after Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984), who was a physicist, engineer and judo expert. He developed this technique in the process of rehabilitating himself from a pair of badly injured knees (torn up by years of playing soccer).
This method has worked very well for me. I've worked for the last 2 years as a programmer and have had no problems with a sore back or carpal tunnel/rsi, even though my hands and arms used to be constantly irritated (keep reading).
When I was in graduate school (getting my Master's deg. in music performance (I play percussion & marimba, btw:) ) I was having numbness and chronic inflammation in my hands and forearms. Chiropractic wasn't doing much. I didn't want to take a lot of NSAIDs. I was having to ice my forearms down every night before practicing. It was around this time I found this work. Once I started doing lessons regularly my problems cleared up. My musicality and technique improved greatly, as well, since my hands and my posture were fighting themselves (and each other) less and less.
I've since then undergone the 160 days (spread over 3.5 years) of training needed to become a Guild-Certified practitioner.
The method can be taught to groups (known as Awareness Through Movement(tm) or ATM) or individually (known as Functional Integration(tm) or FI).
There's a directory here of practitioners in the U.S., Canada, and a number of non-North American countries.
Interesting links:
Felden-what?? (a very good article by Lawrence Wm. Goldfarb, Ph.D.).
On the site of the Feldenkrais Guild of North America:
Slashdot Mirror
Wired had an article in August 2001 about two other people attempting much the same thing.
Cringley has a good piece up on this as well.
The South tower collapsed a few minutes ago.
I doubt this would help people having repetitive-strain/use problems. If the keyboard is nearly zero force than you're doing all kinds of work holding your fingers up and extended, rather than letting them rest on the keys and giving an extra "push" when you want to type something. The back of the wrist and the back of the hand can get very sore from this.
The method is named after Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984), who was a physicist, engineer and judo expert. He developed this technique in the process of rehabilitating himself from a pair of badly injured knees (torn up by years of playing soccer).
This method has worked very well for me. I've worked for the last 2 years as a programmer and have had no problems with a sore back or carpal tunnel/rsi, even though my hands and arms used to be constantly irritated (keep reading).
When I was in graduate school (getting my Master's deg. in music performance (I play percussion & marimba, btw :) ) I was having numbness and chronic inflammation in my hands and forearms. Chiropractic wasn't doing much. I didn't want to take a lot of NSAIDs. I was having to ice my forearms down every night before practicing. It was around this time I found this work. Once I started doing lessons regularly my problems cleared up. My musicality and technique improved greatly, as well, since my hands and my posture were fighting themselves (and each other) less and less.
I've since then undergone the 160 days (spread over 3.5 years) of training needed to become a Guild-Certified practitioner.
The method can be taught to groups (known as Awareness Through Movement(tm) or ATM) or individually (known as Functional Integration(tm) or FI).
There's a directory here of practitioners in the U.S., Canada, and a number of non-North American countries.
Interesting links: