Comment Ergonomics just delays the pain... (Score 1) 169
Ergonomic devices prolong the onset of pain- they do not make it go away or somehow protect you from the forces of your body. I've had wrist pain for about 2 years and have been computing for about 13 years. I've recently discovered Pete Egoscue's amazing book "Pain Free". Egoscue is brilliant- he describes in plain english how your body works, why it hurts and how to fix it. He states [on Ergonomic Chairs], "These chairs are substituting their design for your muscles. They hold you in a position that forces the spine into a semblance of an S-curve, which is what your muscles are supposed to be doing but aren't. This does nothing to strengthen the muscles."
The main ideas Egoscue presents are:
1) Human beings need motion to survive- as much as we need food and shelter.
2) One of our traits (he says we developed 3.2M years ago) is that our brains shut off muscles we aren't using; this is an energy saving mechanism that in the wild could have meant the difference between life and death.
3) We don't move enough- most of us drive, few of us walk or exert ourselves.
The book is arranged in a very practical way- the first 3 chapters describe basic concepts regarding the function of the body. Chapters 4-12 go through the major joints of the body from the ankles to the neck. Each chapter offers specific information about that particular joint as well as specific exercises to alleviate pain. Chapter 13 is a conditioning/maintenance chapter that he suggests everyone should do.
The pain relief from the first day I did the exercises for Hand/Elbow pain was worth the cost of the book. He's on the web at www.egoscue.com.
The main ideas Egoscue presents are:
1) Human beings need motion to survive- as much as we need food and shelter.
2) One of our traits (he says we developed 3.2M years ago) is that our brains shut off muscles we aren't using; this is an energy saving mechanism that in the wild could have meant the difference between life and death.
3) We don't move enough- most of us drive, few of us walk or exert ourselves.
The book is arranged in a very practical way- the first 3 chapters describe basic concepts regarding the function of the body. Chapters 4-12 go through the major joints of the body from the ankles to the neck. Each chapter offers specific information about that particular joint as well as specific exercises to alleviate pain. Chapter 13 is a conditioning/maintenance chapter that he suggests everyone should do.
The pain relief from the first day I did the exercises for Hand/Elbow pain was worth the cost of the book. He's on the web at www.egoscue.com.
