I developed some RSI in my right followed by both wrists/fingers last fall due to overuse and poor body/hand/arm posture. Thankfully it relieved with lots of re

I developed some RSI in my right followed by both wrists/fingers last fall due to overuse and poor body/hand/arm posture. Thankfully it relieved with lots of rest, but heed your body's warnings lest it become permanent! I took 4 days off in the middle of reaching a deadline just to correct my ergo setup, and the rest combined with learning really helped. 1. Take breaks! I know it sucks, I was on a deadline. But you'll be cursed with 0 deadlines later (out of work) if you push it too far. 2. A vertical mouse is better than a standard mouse because it moves the pressure from your sensitive, soft tissue under your wrist to the side. But your arm/wrist isn't immune there either. This prevents strain in my wrist now, but during an intense period, it doesn't help. Assuming you get the right trackball, trackball > vertical mouse > standard 'flat' mouse. 3. The best sources I've found are a little outdated in terms of webpage but in the end helped me immensely! The Cornell Human Ergo lab [0] is a big site with lots of useful information, namely a quick snapshot of roughly idealized setup with points like negative keyboard tilt [1], and a checklist for yourself [2]. 4. A trackpad is in some ways better for your arm position than a mouse, because it's closer to your body's midline. Of course, a track pad can be worse on your fingers/hand. 5. Your ergo setup and body is a system. Even if you make one objectively positive change, this may result in undue pressure on another part of your body. Watch your aches and pains and adjust each accordingly. This usually takes iteration, or changes throughout the day (i.e. time split standing vs. sitting; time split using mouse, trackball, pen tablet). Edit: #6 it goes without saying but is worth emphasizing: get regular exercise, sleep, and eat a balanced diet. These 3 go a long way. IME even brief brisk walks during breaks were better than simple breaks away from the keyboard. [0] http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/ http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/ [1] http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/DEA6510/dea6512k/ergo12tips.html http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/DEA6510/dea6512k/ergo12tips.ht... [2] http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/CUVDTChecklist.html http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/CUVDTChecklist.html