Computer work is generally performed sitting down, with the hands operating the keyboard and/or mouse
and the eyes fixated on the monitor, document or keyboard.
This posture, where the same position is maintained for longer periods of time, is called a static working posture.
The movements used to operate the keyboard and mouse are short-cyclical repetitive actions,
in other words,
identical movements that are constantly repeated.
The combination of a static working posture and repetitive actions can lead to complaints because the same muscles are continuously used.
As a result, the muscles cannot sufficiently recover from the efforts, and this may cause pain.
This pain in turn causes extra muscle tension, resulting in reduced blood circulation in the muscles and eventually damage to the tendons.
This so-called pain cycle can result in taking up a different posture, which can cause new complaints or aggravate the existing ones.
Stress
can also affect the development or aggravation of this type of symptoms, since people who are under stress are unable to relax sufficiently.
Both arms together consists of as much as 20% of your total body weight.
Your shoulder and neck muscles therefore have a considerable weight to carry if your arms are not properly supported when sitting.
It is better to support the arms, and the wrists too.
To this end you need sufficient space for your keyboard and/or a wrist support.
Also place your monitor at the right height so that you will not need to lean forward to read the screen.
Needless to say, the longer you spend at the computer without breaks the more important it is to bear these aspects in mind.
Varying your posture regularly will help prevent and reduce symptoms.
