About 4 months ago, I started getting weird forearm pains in my arms. It seemed to happen worse when using a computer, or just generally resting my arms on a hard table. Anyone ever get interesting muscle aches when using the computer for long periods?
After a bit of reading, it appears I probably have RSI. That is, Repetitive Strain Injury.
Anyway, I have found an awesome program, available for Windows and Linux, called Workrave. (Sorry mac users, but I’m sure your computers are *way* too ergonomic to ever give you RSI. If they do, you could use AntiRSI.)
What these programs do is run a constant timer, and every 10 minutes or so, give you a “microbreak” that stops you from working for 30 seconds, and every hour make you take a longer break. They also show exercises to do during your breaks.
This allows your muscles to rest and prevents the RSI getting worse. Check out Workrave at http://www.workrave.org.
Used to use workrave but then started ignoring it! If the pain is in the arm you use a mouse with, try using it with the other arm or consider a trackball.
That is the problem – very tempting just to click to ignore it. I do a lot of design, so I kind of need to use my right arm, and I’m not sure a trackball would help too much. Weirdly I get the pain in both arms interchangeably.
Do you still get bad RSI?
my RSI is like an old friend to me now. Familiar to all FBrs, think its the mouse clicking rather than keyboarding that does it.