A question about Health

[P_fuzz]

something I never though it would bother me but, 80 product shots later here I am...

both wrists are aching like crazy (even thou I use tablet) and from now on I decide its time to take care of myself.

do you guys do any exercises, or have any tips on preventing this things to happen... i.e. use wrist support.

At the moment I find that putting an ice pack helps relieve the pain, as well as taking some ibuprofen... the worst thing is I gotta finish the job!s!

[eraanexact]

The only thing that ever worked for me was to just stop retouching for several hours. After years of doing the contrary, I now have the mindset that after 8 to 10 hours, a serious recharge is in order. My work is better for it. Although it is frustrating when a deadline is rapidly approaching.

[plugsnpixels]

We have to watch out for shoulder pain too.

[Quantum3]

Buying a nice chair and working with a nice natural light helps a lot, beside exercises, of course!

[plugsnpixels]

You said the "E" word...

[Quantum3]

Originally Posted by plugsnpixels

You said the "E" word...

I didn't get it :?

[plugsnpixels]

"exercise." Don't go bringing THAT up! :-) I think we push pixels, that's all...

[Quantum3]

haha... Good idea for a photomontage of a guy pushing a big pixel xD

[plugsnpixels]

Sisyphus Retouchers Inc.

[Quantum3]

Originally Posted by plugsnpixels

Sisyphus Retouchers Inc.

Haha... good one! I would have a company with that name!

[plugsnpixels]

Pushing a square pixel no less!

[Quantum3]

It also works for those clients that want more than agreed: "No, this wasn't in the agreement. I won't push any other pixel. I'm not Sisyphus!" xD

[John Wheeler]

Hi P_Fuzz

It would be well worth the investment to talk with your physician and probably a physical therapist. Ergonomic problems and RSI (repetitive stress injuries) are the source of many aches and pains (and sometimes disability). They can give the best suggestions on what you should do different (exercises, body positioning relative to your equipment).

Here is a link to some exercises:
http://www.will-harris.com/yoga/rsi10.html

I have also heard that one can install an auto-reminder to take real short breaks to do some of the basic stretches especially for the areas that are of concern.

Here is one piece of advice I received from a physical therapist in regards to ergonomics. The therapist defined the most natural and comfortable position for you arms/legs/wrists etc is what he called the "neutral" position (e.g. wrists more flat than bent up on a keyboard). This is when your flexor and extensor muscles are in natural comfortable balance. When you have your body appendages in their non-neutral position they are under stress. Best to build the positioning of all you equipment (chair, monitor, keyboard, mouse, tablet, legs, feet so that they are as close to neutral position as possible. For those that cannot, a short exercise for those particular muscles should be done every 30 min (60 min max). All IMHO of course

[P_fuzz]

thanks for the link john... I will be watching my actions a lot closer now...

prob need to invest in a new chair and a good monitor as well...

[OnAir]

a nearest horse riding club probably might help)

[0lBaldy]

My shoulder is frozen and does not move due to an old injury, so using a mouse or tablet for an extended time was excruciating to me.... My low tech solution to the aching problem was an old clipboard with the clip part cut off to serve as a platform for my mouse pad/tablet.. I do all my work IN MY LAP using the cut off clipboard as my table... I find my hand position much more natural no wrist pain and more important to me... no shoulder pain.. and as a bonus I can sit and work comfortably even with my feet up if I want to..... try it, you might like it...

[John Wheeler]

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

I find my hand position much more natural no wrist pain and more important to me... no shoulder pain.. and as a bonus I can sit and work comfortably even with my feet up if I want to..... try it, you might like it...

I just might give that a try! Thanks for sharing OlBaldy

[chet webley]

I have a back problem which requires a monthly visit to a chiropractor.

I also used to have lots of issues with aching wrists and hands. it's MUCH better now I use a tablet, but it's also important to have a good chair, a desk at the correct height, and to make sure that you're monitor is at eye level (a problem for me as I'm 6' 3"!)

My chiropractor gave me an excellent device for doing shoulder relaxing exercises, which really helps after a long session at the screen - essentially, it's a thin rubber strap, about 4 feet long, that I do a selection of "bullworker" type exercises with (remember those?)

I'll try to remember to get the name of it when I get home, and post it here - It was only £5

[Quantum3]

I'm a believer that a chair tilted about 45º is the perfect position to work as much comfortable as possible but always had a problem with the mouse, because it would fall. However, nowadays there is the Apple Trackpad, which would solve the problem. Years later, I found this:

[chet webley]

^^^ that needs wheels and a jet engine!

[girlsfather]

Long time ago I had this kind of problems - especially while dodging and burning for hours.

I used a powerball for a while to strengthen the wrist, arm and shoulders.
(that is a gyroskopic therapeutic tool in the size of a tennis ball)

I learned to use smaller amount of pressure to the pen.
To interrupt that long d&b sessions, I try to do other things in between.
I bought a saddle chair. That helps me to sit more upright and that helps my shoulders and arms too.

I use a rowing mashine (water) to strengthen back and shoulders and a series of special Yoga exercises that I received from my osteopat (kind of chiropractor) helps me to relax the muscles.

I never had this severe pain again...

[Jerryb]

hi,
Not sure if I can add anything new but maybe...
What i found over the years that has help me..
1. take breaks every 30-40 minutes... your mind is refreshed and I have found over a two hour period withbreaks --I accomplish more than doing two without break..
howlong of a break.. a lot of people just a 5 or 10 minute break quite sufficient.

2. when taken a break, besides just walkingaround, which helps, Ido a couple of minutes worth exercising and massage my muscles... i'll massage my fingers, my wrist and the hand in general, also i''l roll my head and my shoulders to losen up those muscle.... and I'll exercise my eye muscles.....

3. monitor... I found when i position the monitor tilted toward my head instead of straight forward ..... I had a whole less problems with neck and shoulder muscles getting tired or cramping ..

4. keyboard... i LIKE the ergonomics one where theboard look like it bent in the middle... those kinds really helped my wrist a lot they didnget as tired and i didn't get wrist cramps...

5. and the chair.... so important a good chair that forces you into good posture and one that you can elevate to where your hands feels more natural on thekeyboard and mouse...

overall doing the things I mentioned above has allowed me not to have any serious issues....

something watch with your wrist ,carpel tunnel ..... youmay want to check with doctor who familiar with it..... to make you don't have.... and take steps (excersing) to insure youdon't get....


well those are my thoughts....

[DJSoulglo]

Figure out something you can do.

I either stand up and just twirl my arms around a bit ( one way, other way, both different ways, old kungfu exercise ) or I have a pull-up bar that I either do some pullups or just hang for a bit

There's always something you can do, and it's important to figure out something you can do. Doesn't really matter what as long as you can move around a bit.

This is all after you've made your work area as "ergonomic" as you can.

[plugsnpixels]

We really need to make a video of all you guys taking breaks... ;-)

[DJSoulglo]

Originally Posted by plugsnpixels

We really need to make a video of all you guys taking breaks... ;-)

It looks stupid. But at least I don't have any shoulder/wrist issues, which would be a lot more stupid.

[daygraphics]

Some great advice here already. I can only add a bit and maybe emphasize some of what already been suggested. I stop every couple of hours and get up, stretch, swing my arms - hey maybe go to the bathroom.

I also agree with finding a chair position that is right for you and most comfortable for your back, arms, shoulders and wrist on the mouse or tablet - and a secondary one that you can alternate back and forth from.

I also workout everyday at the gym (lucky - one is in my building). Weights (for strength) and Aerobics (for cardio). Getting a hot shower and coming back at it helps a lot. But hey... everyone get that hand cramp you talk about after cranking on a deadline - 10-12 hours or longer straight through.

[plugsnpixels]

I bet a lot of computer-related stress also has to do with hardware. For instance, I use Apple's flat keyboards (on the desktops), which are so much easier on the hands/wrists than the old chunky Apple and common PC ones. My favorite mouse right now is the wireless Apple model (no fighting with a stiff cord).

Every Windows PC (not VM) I ever used had what I call "wild mouse" (ie, the cursor set to move very fast all over the screen). I suspect trying to control that precisely might add to tension on the hand, wrist and arm.