Newsgroups: bit.listserv.wpcorp-l
Date:         Wed, 2 Sep 1992 10:18:40 PDT
              <WPCORP-L@UBVM.BITNET>
From:         Larry <0084P@NAVPGS.BITNET>
Subject:      carpal tunnel

First, let me give the advice carpal lists emphatically give: if your
arms, hands, wrists, or shoulders hurt, see a doctor NOW! How soon you
get help can be the difference between months of pain, incomplete
recovery, the necessity of finding work that doesn't require much hand
movement, etc., on the one hand, and good recovery without surgery and
being able to continue in the work for which you have training and
experience. I got physical therapy right away, and I can type 2 or 3
hours a day now after a few weeks of lighter duty.
There are GIF files, viewable on a graphical workstation (like a Sun) of
several alternative keyboards. The one that looks most useful to me will
start shipping in October; I've got an order in. It's just like a
standard 101 key keyboard, except it's been cut into three pieces: a
zig-zag line with lefthand keys in one piece, right hand keys in another
piece, and the two key pads on the right in a third piece. You can
positoin and lock in place each piece as you find most comfortable.
Ergonomic studies find that many people are more comfortable if they can
type with their wrists half way up to vertical, instead of parallel to
the table. We had a head crash and I lost my copy of the general info
from these groups. Someone from Sorehand (address below) will, I think,
send you a big general info file. It may come only in his monthly mass
mailing.
Take breaks from your typing: 10 minutes out of each hour if you have no
symptoms, more often if you have symptoms. If you have a variety of work
duties, do some of your typing in the morning, some in the afternoon. Do
exercises: stretch your arms out straight, raise and lower your hands
several times. Rotate your hands ten times (making circles in the air
with your fingertips.  Make tight fists, hold for one second,
then stretch your fingers out wide and hold for five seconds. Repeat
several times.
This is well-recognized as work-related injury, so all medical expenses
and special equipment should be covered. Point out to your boss that a
decent chair, work-table, wrist rest, and such, are far cheaper than
your surgery and months of lost time.
The keyboard I mentioned above is the Comfort Keyboard, from the Helath
Care Keyboard Co., N82 W15340 Appleton Ave, Suite L, Menomonee Falls, WI
53051 (414) 253-4131, Fax 414 253-4177. This doesn't constitute a
recomendation by the US govmt (for which I work) or any of its
components. The keyboard is $590, they will be shipping a PC version and
a Mac version. They have a professional-looking description independent
research done into its effectiveness, that you can show your boss.    If
you're on a mainframe, you can get a board and software to connect to
the mainframe from a PC, nearly as fast as the straight co-ax
connection.
Now I've used up my morning quota of typing time. Write me if you have
more questions.

              Tendonitis etc.." <SOREHAND@UCSFVM.BITNET>
is one list; it isn't on the bitnet list of lists. Here's the official
description of another list.

C+Health on LISTSERV@IUBVM                  Computing and Health
            or LISTSERV@IUBVM.UCS.INDIANA.EDU
	[Last Updated 12-October-1991]

   C+Health is intended to promote sharing of information, experiences,
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