How can we prevent repetitive stress injuries with computer use?
Answer
For people who have physical limitations who are using the computer, sometimes repetitive stress injuries are not a concern, because of the patterns that that person is using. Where repetitive injury gets to be a problem is for people who are using the standard keyboard and mouse well, but they are using it for long periods of time. There are a lot of great references that are available online to that provide guidelines for the best way to position a client in relation to their computer display, the computer keyboard, and a computer mouse to help minimize those repetitive stress injury issues. It is also important that the client take regular breaks, and to be honest, some people are simply more susceptible to those repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome than others. There are always people out there that use their technology repetitively, and do not develop injuries no matter how much they continue to the same movements; other people seem to develop those injuries quite easily. If that is an interest area of yours and you would like more information, I would encourage you to look up an ergonomic computer set up on the Internet as well.
Michelle Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS
Michelle Lange is an occupational therapist with over 38 years of experience and has been in private practice, Access to Independence, for over 19 years, where she currently focuses on education and consultation. She is a well-respected lecturer, both nationally and internationally, and has authored numerous texts, chapters, and articles. She is the co-editor of Seating and Wheeled Mobility: a clinical resource guide (1st & 2nd eds). Michelle is a RESNA Fellow and a RESNA-certified ATP and SMS. She is also a member of the Clinician Task Force.
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