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Great to see ergonomics issues getting attention on HN. When you ignore (or are unaware of) ergonomic issues for years, you can get into serious trouble (like I

Great to see ergonomics issues getting attention on HN. When you ignore (or are unaware of) ergonomic issues for years, you can get into serious trouble (like I did). I had been programming for over 10 years without any problems (and without paying any attention to ergonomics), and 7 years ago I got Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) really bad. I tried many things to get rid of it, but it was very hard to get rid of. The RSI got so bad that I thought I had to give up programming all together. Fortunately I managed to find a combination that worked for me. The most important component was using a break program that made sure I took breaks to rest my arms and hands, and to do some exercises. I also switched to an ergonomic keyboard and mouse. I am now completely recovered, but it really made me realize that we need to pay attention to ergonomics. I've written up my story in more detail here: http://henrikwarne.com/2012/02/18/how-i-beat-rsi/ http://henrikwarne.com/2012/02/18/how-i-beat-rsi/ In addition to what I mention in my post, I am now also using a height-adjustable desk (like the OP). It's really good to be able to switch between sitting and standing. If you are like me for the first 10 years of my career (i.e. ignoring ergonomics), consider paying a little bit of attention now, otherwise it may become a problem later on.

MisterWebz 14y ago
You wrote the exact same comment here. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4988649 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4988649
- henrik_w 14y ago
  Well spotted! Just a few minor edits. But I do think it's important to get the message out - it's so easy to ignore, and then you can end up with real problems and real pain for a long time.
- KurtMueller 14y ago
  Better that he repeats himself a lot then to mention it only once. It was the first time I saw this comment and as somebody who's developing aching wrists and fingers, I'm glad I came across it.
- scotch_drinker 14y ago
  Both links are about posture thus making his comment relevant to both. If you mention something to someone concerning something you've done, do you never mention it again even with a different audience? The bigger question is "Why shouldn't he say the same thing?" It's not like he's spamming the front page with links. He has an experience that might be applicable to people who did not see the first link (like me, I come to HN multiple times a day but did not see the previous link or comment). Pointing this out seems akin to hanging out with a friend in multiple social settings and when he tells a story you have heard before but the group hasn't, you stop him and tell him he's told that before.
AJ007 14y ago
I was in a similar position. I started using computers at a young age (around 7) and by my early 20s had debilitating RSI. At one point I couldn't hold a mouse for much more than 15 minutes. I would wake up in the morning with both of my arms completely numb. I "solved" that problem by going through probably $5,000 worth of ergonomic keyboards and chairs. I still experienced severe wrist pain, finally peaking out in 2010 where the pain and numbness was continuous. I assumed incorrectly that I had irreversible nerve damage. Unrelated to this I started doing upper body strength training. Besides going from not having done a pushup in years to doing hand stand pushups I can now sit at my computer for 12 hour stretches with zero pain. By the way, this was about 3 weeks of training before the pain vanished. Over the past few years I've had brief pain a handful of times, that went away quickly. Now whenever I start developing any sort of problem I revert whatever piece of my lifestyle that is out of balance back to its normal state. I wish I had figured this out a decade ago.
- Evbn 14y ago
  Eh, many many people get debilitating RSI whe they first start typing a lot in college or wherever, and grow out of it in a couple of years regardless of therapy technique.
ewoolery 14y ago
In addition to height adjustable desks, there is some interesting tech chasing this need. Lumoback has developed a bluetooth enabled device to track and help maintain good posture: www.lumoback.com [disclaimer: the founders are friends]
discreteevent 14y ago
It's crazy really to use an ordinary keyboard. It's basically the same as when the keyboard was invented. At that time there was some justification for having to fit your hands to the machine. Now there is none really. The Microsoft one is pretty cheap. If I have to use an ordinary keyboard now it feels fine for the first five minutes but then I start to feel what it really is - cramped.
- alxndr 14y ago
  I feel the same way about QWERTY -- I've been typing in Dvorak for ten years now, and on the rare occasions I have to go back to QWERTY on a full-size keyboard it feels like I'm tying my fingers into knots.

MisterWebz 14y ago

You wrote the exact same comment here. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4988649 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4988649

henrik_w 14y ago
Well spotted! Just a few minor edits. But I do think it's important to get the message out - it's so easy to ignore, and then you can end up with real problems and real pain for a long time.
KurtMueller 14y ago
Better that he repeats himself a lot then to mention it only once. It was the first time I saw this comment and as somebody who's developing aching wrists and fingers, I'm glad I came across it.
scotch_drinker 14y ago
Both links are about posture thus making his comment relevant to both. If you mention something to someone concerning something you've done, do you never mention it again even with a different audience? The bigger question is "Why shouldn't he say the same thing?" It's not like he's spamming the front page with links. He has an experience that might be applicable to people who did not see the first link (like me, I come to HN multiple times a day but did not see the previous link or comment). Pointing this out seems akin to hanging out with a friend in multiple social settings and when he tells a story you have heard before but the group hasn't, you stop him and tell him he's told that before.

AJ007 14y ago

I was in a similar position. I started using computers at a young age (around 7) and by my early 20s had debilitating RSI. At one point I couldn't hold a mouse for much more than 15 minutes. I would wake up in the morning with both of my arms completely numb. I "solved" that problem by going through probably $5,000 worth of ergonomic keyboards and chairs. I still experienced severe wrist pain, finally peaking out in 2010 where the pain and numbness was continuous. I assumed incorrectly that I had irreversible nerve damage. Unrelated to this I started doing upper body strength training. Besides going from not having done a pushup in years to doing hand stand pushups I can now sit at my computer for 12 hour stretches with zero pain. By the way, this was about 3 weeks of training before the pain vanished. Over the past few years I've had brief pain a handful of times, that went away quickly. Now whenever I start developing any sort of problem I revert whatever piece of my lifestyle that is out of balance back to its normal state. I wish I had figured this out a decade ago.

Evbn 14y ago
Eh, many many people get debilitating RSI whe they first start typing a lot in college or wherever, and grow out of it in a couple of years regardless of therapy technique.

ewoolery 14y ago

In addition to height adjustable desks, there is some interesting tech chasing this need. Lumoback has developed a bluetooth enabled device to track and help maintain good posture: www.lumoback.com [disclaimer: the founders are friends]

discreteevent 14y ago

It's crazy really to use an ordinary keyboard. It's basically the same as when the keyboard was invented. At that time there was some justification for having to fit your hands to the machine. Now there is none really. The Microsoft one is pretty cheap. If I have to use an ordinary keyboard now it feels fine for the first five minutes but then I start to feel what it really is - cramped.

alxndr 14y ago
I feel the same way about QWERTY -- I've been typing in Dvorak for ten years now, and on the rare occasions I have to go back to QWERTY on a full-size keyboard it feels like I'm tying my fingers into knots.