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The Devil's OnYour Desktop

Computer-related injuries (CRI)that affect specific body parts

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The Devil's OnYour Desktop
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Areas Most Affected*

  • Neck and upper back: 60%
  • Lower back: 40%
  • Arms and fingers: 30%

* Deepak Sharan, study of 27,000 computer professionals, 2001-2007

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Computer Vision Syndrome Eye strain, headaches, dry eyes and sensitivity to light

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Cervical Disc degeneration
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Thoracic outlet syndrome This group of disorders is the second most common type of CRI. Nerves and blood vessels that pass into arms from the neck become constricted, leading to pain in the chest, neck and arms.

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Tennis elbow Overuse of the muscles that pull the hand back (as when typing or using the mouse) causes micro-tears in the tendons that attach forearm muscles to the elbow. This can cause mild paralysis and debilitating pain, and impair one’s ability to carry heavy objects or drive a car.

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Lumbar Disc degeneration Wrong sitting posture can lead to a Slipped Disc—damage to the disc between the lower vertebrae, which causes symptoms that radiate as far as the toes. This can also put pressure on the sciatic nerve root, which causes the especially painful condition, sciatica.

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Non-Localised CRI Many victims suffer from chronic, non-localised pain, which often originates in "trigger points"—knots of constricted muscle—that cause pain and numbness in other areas of the body.

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Intersection Syndrome Repetitive motions of the wrist and thumb cause an abrasion between the two sets of tendons that control them. The intersection of these tendons, in the forearm just above the wrist, develops a painful inflammation.

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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Tenosynovitis—"trigger finger"

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The Epidemic That Is CRI
  • CRI is the fastest-growing type of occupational injury in India
  • In separate surveys of Bangalore and Delhi-based IT professionals, 75 per cent reported musculo-skeletal symptoms of CRI
  • 76 per cent in Delhi reported visual problems
  • The typical CRI patient in India is a 27-year-old who is otherwise healthy and active
  • Over 70 per cent of CRI patients surveyed in Bangalore were initially misdiagnosed
  • Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI) also occur in professions not involving computers: manual labourers, musicians, teachers, truck drivers, surgeons, farmers, assembly-line workers and housewives
  • Children too can sustain RSI and eye problems arising from incorrect useof computers, mobile phones and play stations
  • In the US, the Occupational Heath and Safety Administration (OSHA) noted that every third dollar paid in worker compensation went to RSI patients.

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Blink, And It’s Gone

A few things to remember while sitting before a computer

  • Keep your wrist unsupported while typing. Do not use gel pads as wrist-rests.
  • Sit with your back supported against the chair’s backrest, and with thighs sloping down slightly so that your hips are higher than your knees
  • If your boss won’t do it for you, invest in an ergonomically sound office chair: ideally, one with a head-rest and lumbar support. The seat-height, and the angle between seat and chair back should be adjustable.
  • If you feel a CRI coming, address it early. Learn preventive stretches from a CRI expert.
  • Make sure a light source or window is not directly reflecting off your screen—for instance, by building a simple shade out of file folders
  • Blink regularly or use a solution to keep your eyes lubricated; running a humidifier in an air-conditioned office can also help avoid dry-eye symptoms
  • It is better to have your head angled down to your screen than up—having to look up at a screen reduces blink-rates
  • Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds
  • Laptops are an inherently un-ergonomic device as the screen and the keyboard are attached. When using a laptop at home or office, use an external keyboard and mouse, and a laptop stand to prop the screen to eye level.
  • Ideally your keyboard and laptop should be placed just above the level of your lap, with your elbow at an angle of 100 degrees
  • Consult an expert before using any medication targeting CRIs.

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