Another computer related injury Oct21 '05

Working on the computer every day certainly has some disadvantages - the first being locked into the same bodily position for hours on end. This can increase the chance of developing a repetitive stress injury.

Some common body areas of RSI’s, while using the computer, are the wrists, neck, and lower back.

Jennifer and Andy both spoke out about such concerns.

Thankfully, those areas have yet to cause me any discomfort.

However, a new area has started to irritate me - and that’s my left elbow.

Since I use a Wacom Graphic Tablet, I use my left hand (which is my writing hand) to utilize the mouse:

A photo of my elbow using my mouse

Notice my elbow, in the above picture. It floats on it’s own, and every-so-often it will hit the desktop. It just taps the desktop, but repeating that over and over, all day long, starts to irritate me. And I can feel some general pain in that area.

I’ve used a pillow to help support it, but it only helps so much.

Same elbow, while driving

I’ve also noticed that my driving situation is creating more strain to that same elbow:

A photo of my elbow, while driving

Again, my left elbow just "floats." The arm rest on the door is not very soft, so the constant bumping irritates my elbow more.

I’ve considered some sort of "pillow" for the car, as well.

Categories: Ergonomics , Personal

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matthom is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.