Info-Mac 3/Info_Mac_1994-01.iso/Periodical/General/RSI Network Newsletter Archive/RSI.Network5.etx

Text File | 1993-01-02 | 11KB | 255 lines

RSInetwork#5/April 92
=====================

  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])
  Apple Computer is in no way affiliated with this newsletter.

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

  Setext formatting by:
  Craig O'Donnell, Assistant Sysop, MacWEEK Forum on ZiffNet
  ([e-mail]).

  Other issues of RSInetwork are available through ZiffNet/Mac
  and Compuserve, in the "Reference" file library at location
  ZMC:DOWNTECH. Easy View is in the "Applications" library at
  the same location under filename EASYVW.SEA.


Why So Long Between Issues?
---------------------------
  There hasn't been an issue of this newsletter since December 1991,
  yet it's supposed to be bimonthly. In case you're one of those
  people I failed to contact about this, here's the story: Someone
  accidentally deleted all my RSI-related files the day before the
  February issue was to go out, and I had no backup. Everything was
  lost except copies of old newsletters and an old mailing list.
  Fortunately, the mailing list wasn't too old, and I hadn't yet
  cashed a couple of checks, so I was able to resconstruct most of
  the names and addresses. To those people who subscribed but will
  not get the newsletter, I would love to apologize except I don't
  know who they are or how to reach them. No, I did not murder the
  person who destroyed my files, but I guarantee you I will never be
  without file backup again!


Letters From Readers
--------------------
Statistics
  One reader, whose name got lost with the February newsletter,
  asked for statistics on how many people have repetitive strain
  injuries, and how fast the problem has grown. I have an article
  from a December 1990 San Francisco Examiner that states that the
  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 87,000 cases of RSI,
  triple the number five years ago and more than half of all
  occupational illnesses. I have another reference that states that
  73,000 cases were reported in 1989. But then I also have a flyer
  for an ergonomic product that claims 290,000 cases were reported
  in 1989, "up sevenfold since 1981." If anyone out there has
  statistics that will help sort this out, please let me know so I
  can publish them here.


Doing Research On RSI
---------------------
  Jim Yuill of Poughkeepsie NY sent me a huge binder full of
  interesting articles he collected; it will take me a while to wade
  through them and report on them. If you're interested in
  researching RSI, Jim will be glad to fill you in on what he's
  found and on how to do research at a medical library. You can
  write to Jim at 93 Alda Drive, Poughkeepsie NY 12603.

  Voice-Activated Text Input
  Joan Lichterman of Oakland CA will be glad to talk to people
  considering a voice-activated text input system. She has experience
  with DragonDictate (on an IBM clone) and with the IBM VoiceType system. Her
  phone number at home is [phone].


Is There A Solution?
--------------------
  Kenneth H. Thomas, Jr. of Decatur GA writes that he has been
  offered no solutions to his RSI problem other than to change jobs
  or keep trying to adjust his work area. He wonders who has
  actually found relief or a reversal of symptoms. I too would love
  to hear from any of you who can attest to significant progress.
  Most of you I've spoken too say that, like me, you've found relief
  only from cutting down significantly (if not entirely) on the
  repetitive motion. A return to the old level of activities brings
  the pain right back. In fact, I can't recall anyone otherwise
  claiming to be "cured" except some people who took preventative
  measures at the slightest initial sign of a problem. Some carpal
  tunnel syndrome sufferers have had relief from surgery, but often
  at the cost of impaired use of the hand. Please send in your
  success stories (or those you know of who might not be reading
  this newsletter).

  This reader also asks whether anyone has found any literature that
  correlates repetitive strain injuries to body size. I haven't; if
  you have, please send it in.


East Coast Support Groups?
--------------------------
  If you know of any East Coast RSI support groups, especially in
  the New York area, please let me know (a couple of readers have
  asked about this).


Practitioners
-------------
  Here are the names of some practitioners who may be able to help
  you. (Note that I have no experience with any of them and am by no
  means vouching for them.) Please help us all out by sending in
  names of your own.

  For folks on the East Coast, Jim Yuill offers the names listed
  below. Also, he recommends against seeing Dr. Reiffel of White
  Plains NY.


    Dr. James Thompson, hand specialist, Asheville NC [phone]
    Dr. Gaylord Clark, hand specialist, Baltimore MD, [phone]
    Dr. Nedercott, occupational medicine, John Hopkins
        University, Baltimore MD, [phone]
    Dr. Sidney Blair, hand surgeon, Loyola University Medical School,
        Maywood IL (near Chicago), [phone]


  The Repetitive Motion Institute of the Santa Clara Valley Medical
  Center in San Jose CA is the only program in the Santa Clara
  Valley directed by Board-Certified Occupational Medicine
  physicians who are nationally recognized experts in repetitive
  motion injuries. Its medical director is Dr. Linda H. Morse. The
  institute offers acute care, job site evaluation, work hardening
  programs, and much more. For more information, call [phone].

  In the San Francisco area (San Carlos, to be exact), there's Dr.
  Carla Rudolph and Dr. Jeffrey Shefts, two chiropractors who, in
  addition to standard chiropractic techniques, offer physical
  therapy such as electrical muscle stimulation and interferential
  therapy (relaxing pulses aimed at specific points kin muscles to
  ease pain). They spoke at a meeting of the now-defunct Mid-
  Peninsula RSI Support Group and say they've helped people with
  RSI.


Wrist Rests or Forearm Supports?
--------------------------------
  David R. Carson of ErgoFlex Systems in Larkspur CO sent me a
  two-page article with the above title, along with a brochure on
  his company's arm support product, called DataArm. I'd be happy to
  mail a copy of it to anyone who sends me a stamped, self-addressed
  envelope. The gist of it is this: It's important to perform
  repetitive motions with your wrists in neutral alignment and with
  no pressure on the underside of the wrist. Wrist rests don't take
  care of either of these problems. Forearm supports do, by
  "floating" your arms over the keyboard, making lateral movement
  across the keyboard effortless. They also relieve stress in the
  arms and shoulders. DataArm sells for $159; for more information,
  call 800-788-2810 (8 AM to 5 PM Mountain Time).

  "Roll & Slide" also supports the forearms, with foam-padded
  rollers that glide on bearings along stainless-steel shafts. It
  sells for $125; for more information, contact the Ability Center
  of Greater Toledo at [phone].

  "Wrist Trolley" consists of a pair of wrist support pads that
  glide along a track as you move your hands from side to side. It
  costs $100; for more information, call MicroComputer Accessories
  at 800-521-8270.

  "Arm Rest Module" (A.R.M.) by Ergosource supports the forearms
  from a swing arm. Sorry, phone number is unknown.


Publications Update
-------------------
  The three 16-page booklets from Krames Communications that I
  mentioned in Issue 4 are available only in packages of 50. If
  enough of you express interest, we can do a group purchase;
  otherwise, if any readers who are physical therapists have spare
  copies, please send them to me and I'll pass them on.

  The New York Times on Tuesday, 3/3/92, contained a major article
  on (specifically keyboard-induced) RSI and a semi-related article
  on Worker's Compensation. The RSI article is on the first page of
  the Science Times section (NYT pp. B5-B6). The other article,
  which describes how at least eight states, including California,
  are thinking about merging Worker's Comp with normal medical
  insurance, is in the Business section (NYT p. C2). If any of you
  have copies of these articles, I'd appreciate it if you'd send
  them on to me.


Hints & Tips
--------------
  These may seem really obvious, but maybe there's one here that a
  few of you hadn't thought of yourself. Please reciprocate by
  sending in your own hand- and arm-saving tips.

  Why unbutton that shirt or blouse all the way, when you can
  unbutton just one or two buttons and slip it over your head?

  Rather than squeeze the air out of those big plastic bottles of
  shampoo and the like, keep them on their side, or upside down if
  they're the kind with the large cap. It takes much less pressure
  to get the same result.

  If you're using a trackball pedal on the floor and it's moving all
  over the place, try Velcro tape to stick it to the floor. I use
  sticky-back Velcro on the plastic pad I have over the rug in my
  office. (If you wheel your chair over a rug without such a pad, I
  hope you have a strong low back!)


Quote of the Month
------------------
  "Our bodies were not made to perform thousands of repetitive
  motions per hour. The electronic revolution has outstripped our
  human muscular and skeletal evolution." - Linda H. Morse, M.D.,
  Medical Director of the Repetitive Motion Institute, San Jose, CA.


Contributions & Subscriptions
-----------------------------
  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.

  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


  Electronic subscriptions are free.

    Formatted setexts are found on ZiffNet/Mac via Compuserve.
    Other issues of RSInetwork are available through ZiffNet/Mac
    and Compuserve, in the "Reference" file library at location
    ZMC:DOWNTECH.

    For Internet mailing list distribution, send your Internet
    address to:

      [e-mail]

    and you'll receive the newsletter (plain ASCII).





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