RSI is of particular concern to students in majors that depend heavily on computer use. An extremely serious case of RSI can even set back a career. I am in pain, and the implications aren't just for this term. Bad cases of RSI have forced a handful of employees and graduate students to leave MIT, Diamond said. Taking pain killers or working through minor pain might seem like an acceptable way to deal with the aches many people see as simply part of long-term computer work.
People tend to type until it hurts, and then they take a break.
Although many products on the market promise to end RSIproblems, Diamond recommends examining work habits first. Pacing computer work is especially important, and something MIT students often neglect. Diamond also recommended getting up from the computer and stretching for awhile every few hours, to allow the muscles and tendons to restore circulation and relieve pressure on nerves. Task Group on RSI recommended that people spend no longer than six hours per day working at a computer, particularly if that work involves steady typing. The guidelines also recommended taking five-minute breaks every 40 minutes or so.