Typing Ergonomics
Here are some of the key things to keep in mind with respect to typing posture and hand position:
- keep the backs of your hands parallel to the keyboard.
- have your arms oriented so that you are able to keep your index, middle and ring fingers on their home keys , and have both pinky fingers reach the shift keys without bending your wrist sideways.
- sit up as straight as possible (within reason!).
- have the top of the monitor at eye level.
- hands should be slightly lower than elbows (keeps the blood flowing to the hands!).
- keep your wrists straight, so that the tendons in your wrist are unencumbered through the carpal tunnel.
- take frequent breaks! get up and walk around, or sit under a tree or something
What are the benefits of Ergonomics?
What are the risks of ignoring ergonomic principles?
-Reduction of work-related injuries
-Increased worker productivity
-Increased work quality
-Reduced absenteeism
What are the risks of ignoring ergonomic principles?
MSD- Musculoskeletal disorders
- are injuries caused by sustained exposure to stressors or repetitive motion.
- They may affect muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, circulation, or nerves.
- Some symptoms of MSD
- pain
- discomfort
- tingling
- stiffness
- numbness
- swelling
- fatigue
- aching
- Some well-known MSD’s are:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome -The median nerve does not work properly due to pressure on the nerve as it runs through an opening called the carpal tunnel
- Guyon’s syndrome-
affects the ulnar nerve as it passes through the Guyon canal in the
wrist; this is similar to carpal tunnel, but involves a different nerve. Unlike carpel tunnel, Guyon’s affects the little and ring fingers.
If you have any questions/comments about the lesson, feel free to comment!
(Please specify your Name & Section for Recording purposes)
my favorite position in typing a document is lying down in my bed. what kind of MSD may i acquire?
ReplyDeleteBACK PAIN because lying down can actually put less pressure on your spine and cause less tightness in your hip flexors.
DeleteSir, for example, I have MSD like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. My question is, how to cure this type of disorder?
ReplyDeleteif the symptoms is mild you can ease your discomfort by taking more frequent breaks to rest your hands, avoiding activities that worsen symptoms and applying cold packs to reduce occasional swelling.
DeleteIf these techniques don't offer relief within a few weeks, additional treatment options include wrist splinting, medications and surgery. Splinting and other conservative treatments are more likely to help you if you've had only mild to moderate symptoms for less than 10 months
Is it true that you should not wash your hands after a long session of typing?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely yes! After a long session of typing you should take some rest (atleast 2-3hrs) before washing your hands to avoid "pasma" 😁
DeleteIf by any chance a person got used to using computer laying down, would that be considered as inefficient?
ReplyDeleteLying down while using computer is considered as improper because it can actually put less pressure on your spine and cause less tightness in your hip flexor and it can cause Back Pain, so the truth is it's important to sit down properly when working long hours; this is for your posture, circulation and overall comfort level.
DeleteI used to lay down when using laptop, then eventually I will feel sudden pain in my back and numbness in my thighs, sometimes stiffing of neck, I thought those were normal. With this blog, I knew that those were already classified as symptoms of MSD, so thanks for sharing! Now I'm aware.
DeleteIs MSD a very dangerous that can affect you whole body or it only affect some parts of your body like hands?
ReplyDeleteMSD does not limit the pain in the hands only. As the symptoms stated, it can lead to discomfort, fatigue, aching etc. that distresses the whole body of the person suffering these disorders.
DeleteDonald, Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSDs are injuries and disorders that affect the human body’s movement or musculoskeletal system (i.e. muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs, blood vessels, etc.) and unfortunately it can affect your whole body, so better do the proper posture when working/typing. 😁
DeleteBy the way, nice answer Matthew! 👏🏻
DeleteThanks sir for your informative discussions about ergonomics.. I just have a question regarding about ignoring ergonomics principles.. Sir I have long been playing Dota 2 before I had this knowledge but i didn't felt any pain after playing dota 2... and this time I actually stopped playing because of lack of time and this is the first time I feel pain in my right hand at the side of my pulse sometime i put bandage to relieve the pain and to hide the swelling. So sir what act of negligence to myself I made when using computer?
ReplyDeleteI think the reason why you feel the pain in your right hand is that you play for a lengthy period of time and you did not used the proper keyboarding techniques and i guess your wrist is flat on a desk suface..if You want to avoid pressure on the wrist, when using a mouse, your wrist should not be flat on a desk surface :) Anw, Get well soon!
DeleteWow now I know why i feel pained when using a computer and now I know the solution to it. Thanks Sir.
ReplyDeleteGreat information.
Now you know :) thanks for visiting!
DeleteThanks Sir for this informative blog. Now I will avoid improper typing.
ReplyDeleteYes you should avoid improper keyboarding/typing to MSD, thanks for visiting Janina! 😄
DeleteExcept from people who are using computer, who are the people that can experience MSD?
ReplyDeleteAside from people who are using computer, Blue collar employees experience MSD especially service,shop and market sales workers, laborers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport, and plant and machine operators and assemblers. :)
DeleteWhat are the factors why blue collar employees got MSD?
DeleteFactors contributing to MSDs include use of force, repetitive work, work in awkward postures, vibration, work in cold environments, and prolonged sitting orstanding. They are also affected by levels of stress, autonomy and support from colleagues, individuals' prior medical history, physical capacity and age, and social factors such as leisure activities. These factors may act uniquely or in combination.
DeleteNice question Kat! :)
Thank you for sharing this information.
ReplyDeleteWelcome! :)
DeleteIt is indeed important not to ignore the principles of ergonomic. Thank you for sharing the information sir!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Venice!! Thanks for visiting anyway! :)
DeleteHi sir. Is there any exercises on how to avoid MSD?
ReplyDeleteHello, Yes the following are simple stretching exercises to Avoid MSD:
Delete– Conduct stretching exercises slowly and smoothly.
– Hold each stretch for approximately 15 to 30 seconds.
– Relax the muscles between stretches.
– A specific stretch produces better results when repeated at least two times.
For other exercises, visit this link.. Pages 10-13
Deletehttp://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr743.pdf
Thanks 😄
Hi Sir! What could be the common cause of an ergonomic injury? Can you list some? What are treatment in each MSD?
ReplyDeleteThe most common cause of an ergonomic injury are repetitive work, work in awkward postures, vibration, work in cold environments, and prolonged sitting or standing.
DeleteTreatment:
-Injections with anesthetic or anti-inflammatory medications in or around the painful sites
-Exercise that includes muscle strengthening and stretching
-Physical or occupational therapy
-Acupuncture or acupressure
-Relaxation/biofeedback techniques
-Osteopathic manipulation (a whole system of evaluation and treatment designed to achieve and maintain health by restoring normal function to the body)
You can also check this for more info:http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/musculoskeletal-pain
Deletethank you for this kind of information sir..
DeleteSir, is MSDs preventable? :)
ReplyDeleteThey are preventable and reversible if identified early. 😀
DeleteThe treatment depends on the stage of MSD. If the condition cannot be reversed, treatment can turn into a pain management situation. Thanks =)'