On Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005, at 17:55 Europe/London, James Fraser wrote:
I wonder if Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Stress Injuries were
common in the days of typewriters? I'd like to think that your hands
had to
be pretty strong to be an efficient typist (I'm thinking manual
typewriters), but I don't know if this is true or not. If so, maybe
this
strength-building helped protect against RSI? [shrugs]
Is anyone else out there from the typewriter days, too? Have you
gotten any
RSI-type injuries since the switch to computers?
I also used manual and electric typewriters for a number of years, and
no such thing then as RSI.
Part of the reason may be found if you look at the actions of a
typewriter user - manual or electric.
Put paper in;
turn platen - leaning forward slightly perhaps and arms extended;
one is usually copying from something and therefore looking to one side
or another (though I have heard of some kind of shelf above the
typewriter desk so one can look straight ahead);
end of each line lift left hand of keys and "throw" platen from left to
right to start again on next line;
do it twice for a new paragraph;
end of the page take out the paper;
lay to one side;
insert another piece of paper.
These actions involve more than just the muscles of the fingers and
lower arms, very few people (untrained as typists) sit on a proper
chair at a proper angle. Most typists have found a comfortable "proper"
position, and quickly become aware, after even a short time, of sitting
badly.
Lesson:
Sit properly, shrug shoulders frequently, flex back and neck muscles
often.
Get up and walk around the chair at least four times in an hour.
Never sit for more than fifteen minutes typing at the keyboard,
especially if you are a pecker!
Have fun!
Jay
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