CTDs are the result of gradual damage done to muscles, ligaments, and bones through repetitive movements and strains. More than 100 types of injuries are classified as CTDs, but the best known is probably carpal tunnel syndrome, a disorder affecting the arms and hands of people who perform repetitive motions, such as typing. The US Department of Labor reported over 31,000 American cases of carpal tunnel syndrome during 1995 alone. However, the emerging science of ergonomics may help reduce worker vulnerability to CTDs, and the checklist with ergonomic tips was developed for the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine . The UCSF-UC Berkeley Ergonomics Program studies the mechanisms causing disorders and evaluates equipment designs and work practices.
Web site has a page devoted to ergonomics in the workplace .
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