What is RSI?

Information to help you understand and deal with Repetitive Strain Injury.

Don't suffer in silence.

If you are an existing sufferer then you won't need to be told of the struggle to cope with the everyday routines associated with operating your computer. Poor workstation ergonomics has been tackled by many responsible employers in the areas of seating, posture, screen related eye-strain, and lighting, frequent break routines etc., but the one aspect that has been neglected so far has been the need to reduce the amount of shoulder, arm, and wrist movement associated with normal operation of the humble mouse.

The science of workstation ergonomics is being taken increasingly seriously by responsible employers, but tackling the problem of the number of wrist, arm and shoulder movements necessary to operate the mouse has proved more difficult until recently. Most of us use Windows based software, requiring the continual operation of a mouse, and the resulting strain caused by awkward circular hand and arm movements can lead to discomfort, tiredness, aches and pains, and ultimately repetitive strain injury (RSI) problems.

To sufferers it is a problem to live with. To an un-enlightened employer it can manifest itself as above average levels of absence, experienced employees leaving computer related jobs, and even the growth of time consuming and costly legal claims against companies and computer manufacturers.

The Mousetrapper addresses two key areas:

• It reduces the impact of computer operation on existing RSI and disabled users.
• It minimises the risk of new users contracting RSI problems.

The Mousetrapper unit has been available in the UK for several years and has had a significant benefit for its users' professional lives. In the small Scandinavian market for which it was originally designed, the acceptance of the product has led to steadily increasing sales as companies and Government organisations have equipped both suffering and high risk users with the unit.

Practical Action

RSI is a very real cause of suffering that can last for years, or even a lifetime.

If you feel physical discomfort in your everyday working environment, you should talk to your employer's Occupational Health Therapist, Health and Safety Officer, or a local RSI support group

Useful RSI Sites

• RSIUK - a long standing site and central point of contact and information for RSI sufferers.
• RSIA - the foremost organisation dealing with RSI diagnosis, advice and relief in the UK