Info-Mac 3/Info_Mac_1994-01.iso/Periodical/General/RSI Network Newsletter 13/RSInetwork.13.etx

Text File | 1993-08-29 | 31KB | 731 lines

RSI Network Newsletter #13/August 93
====================================

The RSI Network Electronic Newsletter
For People Concerned About Tendinitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,
and Other Repetitive Strain Injuries


Produced by:
Caroline Rose, 970 Paradise Way, Palo Alto CA 94306
<[e-mail]>
Copyright 1993 Caroline Rose. All rights reserved.
Apple Computer is in no way affiliated with this newsletter.

Setext formatting, electronic version editing, distribution by:
Craig O'Donnell, Assistant Sysop, MacWEEK Forum on ZiffNet
<[e-mail]> or <72511,240> on CIS

To subscribe, see "Electronic Subscriptions", below. To get back
issues or an archive of all issues, see "Online Distribution".



Are Exercises Safe?
-------------------
>From Mark Pinsky:
  A recent paper raises questions about whether commonly recommended
  exercises are safe for VDT operators, including RSI sufferers and those
  at risk for RSIs. The investigators, Kwan Lee of Louisiana State
  University, Naomi Swanson of the National Institute for Occupational
  Safety and Health, and others, found that some exercises could be unsafe
  for workers at risk for RSIs, could replicate RSI-associated risk
  factors, or could be hazardous for people with pre-existing conditions.

  These results are important, but they should not be used to rule out all
  exercises for people at risk for RSIs. Even people with some types of
  RSIs can benefit from exercises under proper medical supervision.

  I debated whether to include exercises in my forthcoming book (The
  Carpal Tunnel Book: Preventing & Treating CTS, Tendinitis and Related
  Cumulative Trauma Disorders, Warner Books, $5.99, November 1993), before
  concluding that I could safely suggest certain exercises under the
  conditions listed below.

  1. If you have or suspect you have an RSI, consult a doctor before doing
  any exercises involving the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, or neck.
  Some exercises can be done safely but should be closely supervised.

  2. If you experience any RSI-related symptoms while exercising, stop
  immediately and see your doctor.

  3. Do exercises gently and cautiously. You can stretch your muscles and
  warm up your joints by working with soft, small movements as well as you
  can with hard, large movements, and you do not have to strain yourself
  to exercise.

  4. Do gentle exercises before starting work and regularly throughout the
  work day, if possible.

  5. Exercises do not eliminate the need for proper equipment and working
  conditions, rest breaks, health work practices, and safe job
  organization. To minimize RSI risks, you should have both proper working
  conditions and a safe, regular exercise program.

  After reading Lee and Swanson's paper, I called Swanson, who confirmed
  that exercises can be helpful if done properly. The paper suggests
  guidelines and includes warnings about specific exercises. I recommend
  that anyone involved in exercise programs read the paper.

  See "A review of physical exercises recommended for VDT operators,"
  K. Lee, et al., "Applied Ergonomics," 1992, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 387-408.

  Reprints are available from Swanson at NIOSH, Taft Laboratories, 4676
  Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226.


Products for Computer Users
---------------------------
Do You Work in a UFO?
>From Craig O'Donnell <[e-mail]>:
  MicroComputer Accessories, Inc. markets a line of computer accessories
  and an entire desk system. Their slogan is "I Work in a UFO (User-
  Friendly Office)" and while I find that slogan perhaps a little too
  perky given my recent RSI problems, there are interesting devices
  pictured in the brochure. I found the brochure at a local CompUSA store.
  It says that "over 130" items are available; below I summarize a few of
  them. For more information, call 1-800-521-8270.

  There are four or five monitor support-arms ranging from simple to
  complex. The #640M CRT Valet for Apple Macintosh holds an entire SE/30
  or Classic-size CPU with room on one side for a diskette box and on the
  other for a floppy drive (set on edge). Your keyboard fits into a holder
  at the front of the mount to keep your physical desktop clear (the
  holder slides back under the mount when the computer is in actual use
  and the keyboard is on the worksurface).

  There are several keyboard drawers and an "Underdesk Mouse Tray" which
  looks promising; a "Wrist Trolley" with two wrist rests which slide back
  and forth in a raceway that fits in front of a keyboard; a FootEase
  adjustable tilting footrest (it looks nice); and finally the WorkManager
  desk system.

  WorkManager modules fit together in the usual "cube" fashion. It looks
  as if the desk height is fixed (the brochure is not specific). There is
  a 90-degree corner module with what appears to be a recessed, adjustable
  keyboard tray built in. All modules come with sockets for trays, monitor
  arms, and lights to cantilever over the worksurface.

  The "Wrist Reminder" is the strangest of all. A bizarrely shaped hard
  plastic device attaches under your wrist with a Velcro wristband. It has
  a small, inverted spoonlike extension that touches the center of your
  palm. The idea seems to be to physically remind you to keeps your wrists
  neutral rather than tilted up or down.

Mouse Shadow
  This is an ergonomic computer accessory that rests under the wrist and
  glides with the mouse to keep the wrist in a neutral position. Made by
  Shadowtech International, Inc., 1-800-329-3752


Products For Everyone
---------------------
Jar Opener
  "Open Up" from Appliance Science, about $40, is a battery-operated jar
  opener. Fasten it under a cupboard and press a jar up into the plastic
  cone. It twists the lid off with "three to five times human hand
  strength." Found in department and specialty stores.

One-Hand Umbrella
>From Rik Ahlberg <[e-mail]>:
  The Brookstone chain of gadget stores (97 nationwide) has a self-closing
  umbrella. It was difficult to get used to at first; you have to remember
  to "caulk" it (like a BB gun) by pushing the handle down until it
  clicks. I found that I could press it to the ground (it has a wide
  rubber tip instead of a metal spike for this reason), lean on it with
  both hands and quickly apply all my weight so that it's not painful for
  my wrists. Once it's caulked, all you do is press the button to open it
  and then press the button again to close it. It opens in a soft, casual
  kind of way. The closing event, though, is one I would not want to
  experience with my head under the umbrella; the umbrella snaps shut with
  the kind of power those garden-variety self-opening umbrellas have, only
  in the opposite direction.

  The umbrella has a strap with Velcro closure to hold it all together in
  a nice package when not in use. It's only available in black with a
  stained wooden handle. It's called the "One-Hand Umbrella," and you can
  find it at Brookstone stores as item #155481. It costs $25 (+tax) and
  has a 30-day money-back guarantee and a lifetime replacement. Brookstone
  has a mail order catalog and a 24-hour order line, 1-800-926-7000.

Topical Arthritis Analgesic Cream
>From Craig O'Donnell:
  When I was at the pharmacy picking up my tendinitis medication I noticed
  a flyer from GenDerm Corporation extolling the virtues of Zostrix and
  Zostrix-HP. This odorless greaseless cream is applied to painful areas.
  Zostrix apparently works by reducing the amount of a pain messenger
  called "Substance P." Its active ingredient is Capsaicin, a natural
  chemical from plants in the Solanaceae family, which penetrates the skin
  and inhibits pain messages from reaching the brain. While it isn't a
  cure for your condition it may take the edge off. You may want to ask
  your doctor about Zostrix.

  Craig adds: this is not a prescription medicine, and a tube cost $14.
  It does lessen pain that "sprained muscle" pain, but you get a "hot"
  sensation - since it uses a substance that makes hot peppers hot.


Magazines & Journal Articles
----------------------------
  Macintosh users won't find more than generic "how to set up your
  workstation" advice, but PC users get an exhaustive listing of keyboards
  and input devices in the August 1993 Computer Shopper. Since the
  comparison chart is flagged "Available Online", CompuServe users should
  be able to download it:

  "Shoppers' Guide to Input Devices" in Computer Shopper, August 1993, pp.
  262-270; chart, pp. 273-282; company phone numbers, p. 282.

  "Cure Carpal Tunnel Without Surgery: A $3 Bottle of Vitamin B6 May Be
  All it Takes," Natural Health magazine, July/August 1993, pp. 63-64.

  "A review of physical exercises recommended for VDT operators,"
  K. Lee, et al., "Applied Ergonomics," 1992, Vol. 23, No. 6,
  pp. 387-408. Reprints are available from Swanson at NIOSH, Taft
  Laboratories, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226.

  An article in The New York Times (Sunday Jan. 17, 1993, LI section
  p. 8) describes biomagnetic arthritis treatment.

  Another biomagnetic therapy article appears in "The Journal of
  Rheumatology," March 1993.


Catalogs
--------
  These catalogs show retail prices, and anyone can order from them. Some
  other catalogs show wholesale prices, and mere mortals can buy only
  through therapists or others who are sanctioned to buy from the catalog.

Enrichments catalog:
  Useful products for disabled people, such as kitchen gear and cutlery
  (and much more). Free. Call 1-800-323-5547 from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM CST
  Monday through Friday.

Dartek Computer Supply:
  Ergonomic goodies for computer users. Free catalog. Call 1-800-832-7835
  between 7:30 AM and 6:30 PM CST Monday through Friday.

Adaptability catalog:
  Products for independent living; things for the home, dressing aids,
  mobility aids, fitness and exercise, and so on. Free. Call 1-800-243-
  9232.


Newsletter News
---------------
Craig says:
  Internet ftp or gopher access to back issues is now set up for both
  Macintosh and PC users. See the end of this issue for more.

  I was a little hasty announcing last issue that The RSI Network
  Newsletter is on the Nautilus CD-ROM monthly "magazine". Look for it on
  the Macintosh version of the Nautilus disc in October or November. The
  Newsletter folder contains EasyView and an index file for browsing the
  setexts. Some time later, Newsletter issues as PC-compatible text files
  with proper line endings will appear on the Nautilus Windows CD-ROM.
  Nautilus subscriptions cost about $130 per year for 12 issues. Call
  1-614-766-3165 for Customer Service.

Hot Off the Press!
  The BMUG Newsletter, Fall 1993 includes product and resource summaries
  from The RSI Network Newsletter's first 10 issues. It's on page 371 in
  the Commentary section. Call BMUG at [phone] or fax [phone]
  to become a BMUG member and get the 400-page BMUG Newsletter. A 6-month
  membership is $28 and a one year membership is $45. BMUG says they're
  "in the business of giving away information" and it's nice to see them
  taking a role in RSI prevention and treatment. I expect to publish more
  excerpts in future BMUG Newsletters to help get the word out to everyone
  at risk for RSI.


Letters From Members
--------------------
  Please send in your letters or questions; other readers can reply via
  this newsletter or directly to you (don't forget to indicate which you
  prefer). Your name will be used unless you indicate otherwise. And
  please take the time to reply to someone's question if you can help out.

Laser Surgery for CTS?
>From Kathryn Gallien <[e-mail]>:
  Is CTS surgery being performed with lasers? Has anyone had such an
  operation? I would appreciate any tips.

Biomagnetic Treatment for RSI
>From Bob Watson <jahangir![e-mail]>:
  An article in The New York Times (see above) described biomagnetic
  arthritis treatment. It has just received FDA approval, and uses
  magnetic radiation to help the cartilage regenerate. The article lists
  case studies of people who have been greatly helped. They also claim
  that it can also be used to treat sports injuries, cumulative trauma
  disorders, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The treatment consists of an
  initial consultation and 18 half-hour treatments spread out over three
  to five weeks. There are two treatment centers in CT and one in Long
  Island, NY.

  The Long Island office is Biomagnetic Treatment Center, 1895 Walt
  Whitman Road, Melville NY, [phone].

  Does anyone have more information or know anyone who has had RSI treated
  using biomagnetics?


Resources
---------
Here are some electronic resources.

  If you're suffering from an RSI and need advice on ways your employer
  can make "reasonable accommodation", don't forget that the Job
  Accommodation Network has an 800 information number: Call the JAN at
  1-800-JAN-7234.

SOREHAND & Boston-RSI Archives
  There are two Internet discussions of RSI problems which you can
  subscribe to if you have access to Internet mail. SOREHAND is an
  international LISTSERV discussion group; Boston-RSI is changing its name
  to RSI-East as Rik Ahlberg explains below. And the Boston-RSI Archives
  supplement the newly forming Boston support group.

  To subscribe to SOREHAND:
  Send e-mail to the LISTSERV address <[e-mail]>
    Subject: <leave blank>
    Message Text:
      SUBSCRIBE SOREHAND your name.

  To find files in the Boston-RSI Archives:
    Log onto <world.std.com> by ftp:or gopher.
    Look in directory:/pub/boston-rsi.
    (The RSI Network archive is in /pub/rsi.)

From Rik Ahlberg:
  The Boston-RSI mailing list is changing its name from 'Boston-RSI' to
  'RSI-East' to reflect expanded geographic coverage. Boston-RSI will
  remain the name of the support group which sponsors RSI-East.

  At the invitation of Boston-RSI reader Bob Zenhausern, RSI-East will be
  a part of the St. John's University Electronic Disability Resource
  Center. The Center is located at sjuvm.stjohns.edu on the Internet, or
  sjuvm.bitnet on Bitnet. The Center is chock full of information for
  people with many kinds of disabilities. To check it out, type 'gopher
  sjuvm.stjohns.edu' (without the quotes) at your unix prompt and browse
  around.

  To subscribe to Boston-RSI in the interim, send mail to <boston-rsi-
  request> at world.std.com.


Geoff's Story
-------------
Please send in your own story or helpful tips for other RSI sufferers.

>From Geoffrey P. Clements <[e-mail]>.
  Toward the end of last year I started having a tingling sensation in my
  hands when I went to bed. My hands would feel like they were vibrating
  and the feeling would increase until it felt like my whole body was
  shaking. I figured I had to cut down on my caffeine intake but the
  doctor thought I it was probably carpal tunnel syndrome. He gave me a
  wrist brace to wear when I went to bed. This lasted about two nights.
  The wrist brace caused a burning sensation in the palm of my hand so
  severe that I felt like my hand was on fire.

  I went and looked up carpal tunnel syndrome in my copy of the Merck
  Manual. Everyone should have one of these. It's tough reading if you are
  not an MD or an RN, but if you keep a medical dictionary next to it you
  should be able to get through it OK. In layman's terms, as I understand
  it, the muscles in your hand that run through the carpal tunnel turn
  into Arnold Schwarzenegger muscles. They get really big and compress the
  nerves that also run through the carpal tunnel. The only way I can see
  to relieve this is to let the muscles atrophy.

  This is what I did: First I examined how I use my computer. I noticed
  that I always rest my wrists on the edge of the keyboard while typing. I
  also rest my right wrist on the desk while using the mouse. In the same
  way as the pressure from the wrist brace aggravated my problem the
  pressure of resting my wrist on the edge of the keyboard or on the desk
  also aggravated the carpal tunnel symptoms.

  So I ditched my mouse and got a trackball. It does not have a foot pedal
  but does have settings for single, double, and press-and-hold mouse
  clicks. I also am aware of how my wrists are resting. If they are on the
  keyboard I take a small rest and tell myself to GET MY WRISTS OFF THE
  KEYBOARD. Those foam pads that a lot of places are selling for people to
  rest their wrists on are probably doing more harm than good. If you are
  using proper typing technique your wrists shouldn't be on the keyboard
  anyway.

  I also started using these iron balls I got from the China pavilion at
  Disney World's Epcot Center while I was on my honeymoon. They're two
  iron balls about halfway between a golf ball and a tennis ball in size.
  You rest them in the palm of your hand and cause them to go around in
  circles in your hand without them touching. The manual says that doing
  this improves stress and prolongs life. But I believe that they balance
  muscle usage. The only problem with them is they make a clink-clank
  sound which drives my wife nuts so I use them during the commute to
  work. Most people can't afford to take a trip to Disney World for these.
  I did see some in the Sharper Image but they were lighter and had fancy
  inlays that felt cheap. The iron balls may be hokey new age medicine but
  if nothing else they do relieve stress.

  I haven't had any problem with tingling or pain in my wrists. The pinkie
  on my right hand does get a bit sore now and again but this is caused by
  my typing style. I am not a touch typist. I use the first two or three
  fingers of each hand and keep my pinkies well out of the way, which
  causes a bit of strain on the muscles in my right pinkie.

  I don't know if any of this information is of any use to anyone but it
  seems to be working for me. Remember I'm not a doctor and anything you
  try is at your own risk. <<That goes for everything in this newsletter!
  - Caroline.>>


"Mary's" Story: Fibromyositis
-----------------------------
>From an anonymous reader:
  I've been to ten different doctors to try to diagnose and alleviate pain
  (and occasional numbness) in the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. I've
  seen three orthopedists, two chiropractors, a neurologist, an
  acupuncturist, a hand specialist, a physiatrist, and a doctor who
  specializes in biofeedback.

  I was misdiagnosed as having one or more of the following maladies:
  carpal tunnel syndrome, a pinched nerve in the neck, or thoracic outlet
  syndrome. I received chiropractic treatment, cortisone shots, pain
  relievers, muscle relaxants, and steroids, all of which did nothing to
  alleviate the pain. I was then informed that I must have carpal tunnel
  surgery, and sooner rather than later. I swore that I did not have
  carpal tunnel syndrome, even though a neurologist confirmed that
  diagnosis. I did not have the surgery, and instead, continued my search
  for a diagnosis that made sense to me.

  After months of treatment, and thousands of dollars (insurance waived
  coverage), I went to see a physiatrist. He diagnosed me as having
  something called fibromyositis. As best I understand it (and I'm still
  learning), this is a condition in which the muscles of the upper
  extremities actually become physically shortened, resulting in
  inflammation and pain. The physiatrist said that the carpal tunnel
  surgery was not necessary, and would have probably made my condition
  worse. He said that I would have this condition for life, as only 10% of
  people who have this get rid of it permanently. He also told me that
  this syndrome is often misdiagnosed with the popular diagnosis of carpal
  tunnel syndrome. This condition is greatly aggravated by stress.

  The physiatrist gave me some exercises to do and put me on anti-
  depressants that helped relieve the pain. Although this helped greatly,
  I still wasn't getting the degree of relief that I wanted (and he said
  I'd be on the medication for six to nine months, which didn't thrill
  me.) At his suggestion, I went to a doctor who specializes in
  biofeedback.

  This doctor told me that he had treated many people with this problem
  and assured me that there was no reason why I couldn't be permanently
  cured. He said it should take two to four months. Within two weeks of
  starting the biofeedback, I was off of all medication. I am now much
  better, and actually have periods of time when I am not in pain.

  Moral of the story: trust yourself, and never stop questioning the so-
  called "experts."


Chronic Pain Network In Connecticut
-----------------------------------
  There's a group in Connecticut called Connecticut Chronic Pain Outreach
  Network (CCPON); for information, call Jewel Shue (pronounced "shoe-ay")
  at [phone].


New Support Groups: Toronto, San Mateo, Atlanta
-----------------------------------------------

  Toronto:
  Contact Alan Cantor at [e-mail].

  San Mateo CA:
  Beth Weiss, [phone]. Meets second Thursday
  of every month, 7-9 PM. Mills Hospital, 100 So. San Mateo Drive.

  Atlanta:
  Contact Ken Thomas, P.O. Box 901, Decatur GA 30031 if you're
  interested in meeting to discuss your experiences with RSI, or
  sharing help you've found or need to find help.


Texas Group Wanted
------------------
  Lynne Johnson in Austin is interested in finding an RSI support
  group in Austin, Dallas, or Houston. She can be reached at home
  at [phone].


RSI Support Groups (California, Boston, New York)
-------------------------------------------------
  San Francisco:
  Judy Doane, [phone], or Yari Leski, [phone].
  Alternate Mondays, 7:30 PM, at the California Pacific Medical
  Center (3698 Calif. St., at Maple), rooms G and H.
  **Starting September, meets first and third Tuesdays of every
  month, 7:30-9:30 PM, CPMC main entrance, 3700 Calif. St.,
  rooms A & B.

  South San Francisco:
  Call Lynda or Sherry, [phone].
  Meets second Wednesday of every month, 7 PM. Caremark Peninsula
  Athlete's Center, 216 Mosswood Way, S. San Francisco.

  East Bay:
  Joan Lichterman, [phone].
  Meets monthly, 7 to 9 PM, usually on the second Wednesday, at
  CalARM 400 29th Street, #105 (at summit), Oakland.

  North Bay:
  Stephanie Barnes, [phone].
  Tuesday evenings, 6:30 to 9 PM, at Santa Rosa Plaza, in the
  Community Room.

  San Anselmo/Marin:
  Liza, San Anselmo, [phone] evenings.
  Meets Wednesdays, twice a month.

  South Bay:
  Pat Roggy, [phone], or Petzoldt Hand Center,
  [phone].

  Los Angeles:
  Samantha Greenberg, [phone].
  A "computer injury network".

  New York NY:
  Susan Nobel, [phone]. Meets monthly.
  She is a social worker at Mount Sinai Hospital who
  offers free counseling to RSI sufferers.

  Boston:
  Call Rik Ahlberg at [phone] to discuss forming
  this group. Message Rik on Internet: <[e-mail]>


Submissions
-----------
  Caroline says:
  This newsletter relies on contributions from its readers: please
  contribute your questions, stories, and any information that may
  be of interest to people with RSI.

  Contributions to the newsletter's content are essential to keeping
  this effort going, so please send me anything that may benefit
  others. Where possible please submit contributions on diskette or
  via Email. Xeroxes of interesting articles from anywhere are
  always welcome. Mail disks or xeroxes to:
  Caroline Rose, 970 Paradise Way, Palo Alto CA 94306

  To submit material to Caroline Rose via Internet, send mail to:
  <[e-mail]>

  Caroline will not be able to Email personal responses for the
  indefinite future. Please do not let that inhibit any of you from
  sending her your material for the Newsletter  --COD.


No More Print Copies Available For Now!
---------------------------------------
  You can receive the newsletter electronically, and it's available
  on many public electronic sites; contact our "Electronic Editor"
  Craig O'Donnell at <[e-mail]> on the Internet or
  72511,240 on CompuServe.

  Donations to help cover expenses are always welcome; please send a
  check made out to Caroline Rose (not "RSI Network"!) and mail it
  to the address above.

  I can't provide printed back issues until further notice. Sorry.
  Please get the newsletter electronically and print it yourself.


Electronic Subscriptions
------------------------
The following is current as of 9/93. Craig says:

  Anyone who would like to subscribe to Issues 13 and later via
  Internet, please send Email to: <[e-mail]>.

  Put "RSI Subscription" (without quotes) in the SUBJECT: line and
  my mailer adds you to the distribution list. [I can not answer
  personally --- COD.]

 Sysops Information
  Anyone who wants to redistribute the RSI Newsletter on a BBS,
  online service, or corporate network, please let Craig know by
  specifying in the message you'd like to be on the Sysops' Mailing
  List. Sysops receive the latest issue plus Macintosh archive
  files.

  He has adopted naming conventions. For Macintoshes:
  "RSInetwork.SEA" or "RSINET.SEA" for the full all-issues archive
  file; "RSI10.SIT" for individual issues, "RSI10.ETX" for issues in
  uncompressed setext formatted ASCII.

  For all platforms:
  "RSI10.ETX" for individual issues in setext format (uncompressed
  ASCII text). If you compress a file - use RSINET.ZIP for a
  collection and for individual issues, RSI11.ZIP, etc.

  Craig asks BBS sysops to please use the same scheme, where
  possible, for searching consistency throughout the "universe",
  and please always include "RSI" as a keyword.


Online Distribution
-------------------
  Our goal is to have the RSI Network Newsletter available on as many
  sites as possible, both free sites and commercial services,on user
  group BBSes and on private BBSes. Again, feel free to download and
  print out the Newsletter to give to others.

Newsletter on ZiffNet
  The newsletter is available first through ZiffNet. It is postedfor
  Mac, DOS and Windows users in different ZiffNet libraries.

For Mac users:
  Back issues are gathered in one archive, RSINET.SEA, in the
  "Reference" library (GO ZMC:DOWNTECH). The latest Newsletter is in
  the same library (for example, Issue 10 is "RSI10.SIT"). Use the
  keyword "RSI" to locate archives and single issues.

  To index, browse, and copy from collected setext documents, use
  Easy View, in the "Applications" library (GO ZMC:DOWNTECH) under
  filename EASYVW.SEA.

For DOS and Windows users:
  Issues 1-10 have been gathered in one summary, RSI.ZIP, (GO
  PBSARCADE, Library 7). Later Newsletters as text are in the same
  library (for example, Issue 11 is "RSI11.TXT"). Use the keyword
  "RSI" to locate archives and single issues.

Planet BMUG BBS & BMUG Boston BBS
  These Mac-oriented bulletin boards run on the Macintosh First
  Class graphic host, but you can log in with any simple terminal
  program.

  BMUG Boston is 617-721-5840.
  RSINetwork.SEA is in the Public Files folder. BMUG Boston has a
  conference area, AccessABLE, devoted to disabled users of all
  types. Planet BMUG is 510-849-2684. Both boards have 16 high-speed
  lines (2400 to 14,400).

America On Line (Macintosh)
  Use Keyword BMUG and look in the file library for the up-to-date
  archive of all issues. Thanks to David Schwartz!

GEnie
  Newsletter #10 and later are available as a plain text file in
  GEnie's disABILITIES roundtable thanks to Richard Brosnahan.
  To get there:
    Log in, type "ABLE" at any "<H>elp ?" prompt.
    Once in the roundtable, type 3 for the libraries.
    Type 8 to set the software library, 7 for Newsletters and
    Articles.
    The RSI Network Newsletter #10 is file number 649, titled
    "RSINETWORK.TXT". Later issues are in the same location.

AppleLink
  More thanks to Richard Brosnahan.  Path:
  Community Connection:Disability Solutions:Empower BB:The Reference Desk


FTP & Internet Archive Sites
----------------------------
Info-Mac Archive
  A full back issues archive is on the Info-Mac internet site. To
  get the file, gopher or ftp <sumex-aim.stanford.edu> and look in
  the directory <info-mac/digest>. Filename: < rsi-network-news.hqx >

ftp for Macintosh
  Complete archives are now available for ftp or gopher
  at <world.std.com>, in the directory ftp/pub/rsi.

  < rsinetwork.sea.hqx > (all issues to date, archived).
  < rsinetwork.11.sit.hqx > (out 4/93)
  < rsinetwork.12.sit.hqx > (out 6/93)
  < (etc). No caps due to UNIX conventions.

ftp for Others
  ASCII, setext formatted archive files are now available for ftp or
  gopher at <world.std.com>, in the directory ftp/pub/rsi. Of
  course, anyone can simply subscribe to the Internet mailing list
  to receive future Newsletter issues by Internet mail.

  Or ftp to Dan Wallach's archive on <soda.berkeley.edu>:
  look in <pub/typing-injury/rsi-network> for issues file names
  "issue1",
  "issue2", ..., etc. These copies are plain ASCII text.


Prior Contents
--------------
The RSI Network Newsletter has covered:

  Issue 1, 6/91:
    Hardware and software of interest; books of interest
  Issue 2, 8/91:
    The TONY! keyboard; Stanford Pain Clinic's psychologist;
    long-term disability

  Issue 3, 10/91:
    SF Bay Area doctors; Special Technology Center; ergonomic/
    employment resources
  Issue 4, 12/91:
    Software; ergonomic resources; publications; more on long-
    term disability

  Issue 5, 4/92:
    Voice-activated text input; practitioners; forearm supports;
    hints and tips
  Issue 6, 6/92:
    Statistics; voice recognition and word prediction;
    legislation; publications; organizations

  Issue 7, 8/92:
    CTS survey; iontophoresis; SF Bay Area ergonomics showroom;
    pain relief; reading hands-free; mouse relief; publications;
    legislation
  Issue 8, 10/92:
    TONY! keyboard update; other alternative input devices;
    ACTSA and other associations; CTDNEWS newsletter; advice
    for swimmers

  Issue 9, 12/92:
    Video of RSI TV special; input devices (esp. DataHand);
    software; practitioners; job accommodation
  Issue 10, 2/93:
    Rolling scissors; Apple adjustable keyboard; keystroke-saving
    software; reading

  Issue 11, 4/93:
    Comfort keyboard; Kurzweil voice input software;
    misc. products; tips for knitters; Voc Rehab
  Issue 12: 6/93:
    pointing devices; MOMA catalog; arthritis products;
    resources, magazines and journals.

  Issue 13: current


About This Document
-------------------
This document is in setext (structure-enhanced text) format.
Mac users: to index, browse, and copy from collected setext
documents, use Easy View, written by M. Akif Eyler, Bilkent
University, 06533 Ankara, Turkey <[e-mail]>.

  "RSINET.SEA" and RSInn.SIT files are available on ZiffNet/Mac
  in the "Reference" file library at location ZMC:DOWNTECH.
  Easy View is in the "Applications" library under filename
  EASYVW.SEA.



..

 This text is wrapped as a setext. For more information about
 The RSI Network, contact <[e-mail]>.