Apologies for the dearth of posts recently – I am suffering from what I can only assume is the beginnings of RSI and am therefore keeping typing to a minimum – ie to the work in progress.
On the subject of RSI, I already have various gizmos (laptop stand to put it at the correct eye-height, separate plug-in keyboard) but was wondering about investing in an ergonomic vertical mouse, as it seems to be the ‘cocked wrist’ position which is causing the trouble. Does anybody have any experience of these so-called ‘handshake position’ mice? If so, I’d be very grateful to hear from you in the comments trail.
With luck, I will be able to type more easily when my hands have had a couple of days rest on my jaunt to Cheshire so I hope to have more to say then...
4 comments:
I got RSI after writing my dissertaion for my masters. All that editing and scrolling look for something. Horrible. Anyway, I do use a vertical mouse. I also switched to using my left hand for mousing (I am right handed) so as to spread the strain assuming that I use my right more for typing/ old-fashioned writing etc. If you do this you need to buy a specifically left handed mouse. You can also buy a mouse that you use in both hands on your lap, or standing up at the other side of the room if you get the wireless version. It hooks round your hands and looks like a 1980s science fiction prop. My husband shouts, "set pasers to stun" when he picks it up - very sad. You can get both from Adapt-IT online. You can also buy a foot mouse too! I also bought, are you ready for this, fempads from the National Childbirth Trust online shop. They are freezer pads designed for ladies to use after child birth but the elongated shape is great for getting a bit of cold to your fore-arms. If you wear something with slim fitting sleeves you can shove one up your sleeve for 20 minutes after you've finished typing and it stays put whilst you eat toast/drink tea etc. Different shaped mice are good. Ice is better still.
I have a gel pad at the near end of my mouse pad so my wrist is horizontal and never 'cocked'. I don't know if that would help. I have observed, though, that people suffering from this year's flu all have residual joint pains and wrists are the main culprit, so perhaps that's all it is. I hope you recover soon
Just to let you know...I visited Waterstones at Bluewater last weekend. While I was there I got all the copies of Testament off the shelf and placed them in full view on the display table, right next to Kate Mosse's latest paperback (tee hee!) :)
Hi Juxtabook - thanks so much for taking the time to give me all this information, I really appreciate it. I shall buy a vertical mouse, I think, though I'll probably stick to right-handed as I hardly do any handwriting these days (which may, of course, be part of the problem).
Hello Elizabeth - so kind of you to stop by with such useful information, many thanks! I had wondered about the flu thing, I have to confess, so that's v. interesting. Hope to see you here again soon...
Hi Akasha - you are a star! Thanks!
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