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Comment by AlanEdge | Hacker News Reader

Surprisingly, lot of RSI problems originate from poor back posture, which distends the discs through which nerves run down to your wrists.

Wrist exercises may provide short-term relief without actually solving the root of the problem.

>>Try tweaking how you sit and sleep (90% of your waking hours).

1) Get a used Aeron chair off of Craigslist with lumbar and wrist support (a $300 chair will lave thousands of dollars in Chiropractor bills).

2) Sleep lying straight with your head resting in the curve of a single foam pillow (http://tinyurl.com/87exg3).

3) Learn and properly practice the McKenzie Tecnique (http://tinyurl.com/a8hr2g), a 30 second means of straightening your entire spine using just your pointer finger on your chin.

#1-3 are life-changers.

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At my initial evaluation for my RSI problem, the physical therapist said she thought my typing/mousing was relatively inconsequential in light of my head-forward position, forward-sloping shoulders and asymmetrical back muscle development. She believed this had developed from poor posture and slouching while seated at the computer. I tried to pay attention to it but couldn't seem to translate my posture-in-my-head to my posture-in-reality. I considered using some kind of brace to try to hold my posture in check until I get used to a more upright posture but couldn't find anything that would be inconspicuous at work. The McKenzie book sounds very promising for my problem because it seems to address some of these undesirable physical developments that I have grown into from my computer lifestyle. I have already tried #2 although a lifetime habit of sleeping on my side is hard to kick - even on a low pillow I manage to turn onto my side. As for #3, I doubt I could manage to get permission to have one at work which is a pity because I have no problem paying for one and would like to try it out because so many people have recommended it. Thank you for pointing me to this book which I assume has helped you. I look forward to reading it.

Interesting. A few thoughts come to mind:

1) You should be covered by worker's comp (by law), in which case a brief to-the-point conversation with a key decision maker in your company over the trade-off between them covering thousands of dollars of WC coverage vs. allowing you to bring your own chair to work is in order.

2) Habits are formed and habits are broken. If you believe you can't change your sleeping posture, than you're absolutely right. The opposite is also true.

You are correct on both counts. I will consider how to approach these issues. Thank you.

Damn- sent you the wrong link. Here's the one for the neck: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0958269246/ref=s9subs_c2_14...

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