Workstation set up

The way that your working environment is set up is very important particularly for those who spend a lot of time at their desks. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) arising in pain has become increasingly more common over the years with people having more sedentary jobs involving being at their desk for many hours every day.

What is RSI?

The Business Dictionary (www.businessdictionary.com) provides a good definition of RSI shown below:

'Collective name for physical disorders that arise from continual use of equipment (such as computer keyboard and mouse) involving quick movements of fingers, hands, and wrists that can damage their (as well as those of neck and shoulder) muscles, tendons, and nerves. Several symptoms such as aching, cracking, numbness, pain, swelling, tingling, loss of joint movement, loss of strength, and diminishing coordination of the injured area, may come and go before becoming chronic. The patient must stop theactivity causing any such symptom and seek immediate medical attention, because a difference of a day or two can mean the difference between a quick recovery and a long, drawn-out ordeal. According to one US study, 63 percent of workforce suffers from such injuries. RSI is not a diagnostic but a descriptive (symptomatic) term that covers many causes and many manifestations, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, De Quervain's Syndrome, Tendovaginitis, Tennis Elbow, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, and Ulnar Nerve Entrapment. Called also Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD)or Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS)'

Physiotherapists can come to you to provide a workstation assessment and optimise your working environment to help keep your body in a good position which causes minimal stress on your body.

What is PAUSE?

PAUSE is a number of exercises which take about a minute to do and are recommended to do at regular intervals if working for prolonged sessions in one position. They help to mobilise joints and stretch muscles. Click on the link below to see an example of these exercises:

http://www.wst.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/76210/PO015.pdf