After about two months of radically reducing my keyboard use while treating my RSI, I have begun to type again at last in short stretches. What’s clear is that typing requires the use of many muscles throughout the hands and arms, all the way up into the neck and shoulders, and if I am not in a supportive position or doing other things to increase the strain — it starts to hurt quickly. But with a combination of voice, keyboard, pen + tablet and frequent breaks I am able to be productive again.
The keys for me have been a combination of rest, gentle exercises, hands-on physical therapy, a reconstruction of my work environment and changing the way I hold my body when working.
One fantastic resource I’d recommend to anyone is “It’s Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: Rsi Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals” by Suparna Damany and Jack Bellis.
