Are Computers Hazardous to your Health?
Nov 21, 2001 11:45 AM
Typing Technique
(1) The wrong way to type. Don't restyour wrist on the table or bend it up so your fingers can reach the keys. You're straining and putting pressure on fragile nerves. (2) The right way to type. Keep your forearm and wrist in a straight, neutral position, with your elbow bent at a 90 degree angle. Do not touch the wrist rest when typing (it's there for resting when you're not typing). Use the big muscles in your shoulder to move your arm, rather than over working your forearms and wrists. If there are feet at the back of your keyboard, fold them down if you can. Put a block of wood or the ring side of a one-inch binder under the front of the keyboard to angle it down so that you rwrist does not have to bend for your fingers to reach the keys.
Q: Your earlier list of essential injury prevention measures included appropriate typing techniques. What are the most important things I need to know?
A: Lift your hands when you reach for the keys rather than stretching your fingers or twisting your wrists. Move your whole arm from your shoulder so the larger muscles support the work of hands, arms and wrists. Since keeping your wrists floating in the air can tire your shoulder muscles, rest your hands in your lap during pauses in typing.
Q: Do you have any other suggestions about typing technique?
A: Here are some other tips:
- Don’t stretch your fingers to hit function keys. Move your whole arm from the shoulder and use your strong fingers.
- Use two hands for double-key operations (like Alt-F) instead of twisting one hand to do it.
- Don’t pound the keys; use a light touch.
- Create macros so one keystroke will replace many. (The manual for your word processing program will have instructions about how to create a macro.)
Watch your hand position. When you type, your hand should be in a straight, neutral position, not bent to the left or right.
Q: Do you have any other suggestions about typing technique?
A: Here are some other tips:
- Don’t stretch your fingers to hit function keys. Move your whole arm from the shoulder and use your strong fingers.
- Use two hands for double-key operations (like Alt-F) instead of twisting one hand to do it.
- Don’t pound the keys; use a light touch.
- Create macros so one keystroke will replace many. (The manual for your word processing program will have instructions about how to create a macro.)
Q: Where can I learn more about typing techniques?
A: The typing advice given above is drawn primarily from two books: Pascarelli and Quilter’s Repetitive Strain Injury: A Computer User’s Guide and Stephanie Brown’s Preventing Computer Injury: The Hand Book.
Brown’s book has been converted into a computer program called Key Moves that systematically teaches you to type in a manner that reduces the risk of repetitive strain injury. The program includes 110 visuals that help you set up an appropriate work station and learn appropriate hand positions. Key Moves (along with a copy of Brown’s book) is available from Ergonome, which can be reached at (212)222-9600.
