Ergonomics Task Force
The General Libraries - The University of Texas at Austin
Online Ergonomics Resources
This page is an attempt to gather and make available some of the more useful sources of ergonomics information that are available on the Internet. It is intended to supplement other documentation or programs that the General Libraries Ergonomics Task Force may produce or make available for library staff. None of the information in any of the documents this page points to should be taken as medical advice. If you are experiencing symptoms of a Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD) or Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) you should consult your doctor.
Think the material here doesn't apply to you? If you're reading this, it does. Read the WebReview cover story on The Dark Tunnel of Pain at the End of the Web.
Ergonomics Programs at Other Universities
Helpful Tips on Workstation Setup, Posture, Prevention and Exercise
- "Conventional Wisdom" vs. Current Ergonomics
by Chris Grant, Ph.D., CPE, of F-One Ergonomics, Ann Arbor, MI, 1998. Summarizes some of the newest research in office ergonomics.
- Workstation Ergonomics Guidelines prepared by the General Libraries Ergonomics Task Force.
- Diagram of proper workstation setup From Ergonomics and VDT Use, Library of Congress Collections Services VDT Ergonomics Committee. Adapted from The ABCs of VDTs: an AFSCME Safety and Health Guide.
- Caring For Your Wrists Adam & Tonya Engst, TidBITs editors. This document contains advice on relieving stress, proper workstation ergonomics and exercises. The complete PostScript version of this document, with illustrations, is available for downloading from the Typing-injury archive at UC Berkeley (see link below).
- Workstation Ergonomics Exhibit Text of an ergonomics exhibit prepared by the General Libraries Ergonomics Task Force.
- Ergonomics and Workstation Design Distributed Systems Technology, 1996. Diagrams and a checklist for workstation setup.
- Gizmos: Pros/Cons Chris Grant, 1997. Purpose, proper use and potential drawbacks of ergonomic office equipment.
- Computer Related Repetitive Strain Injury Paul Marxhausen, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This document contains good images of how to/not to hold your hands when typing, still pictures and videos of exercises to do, advice on taking breaks and software to help relieve the load on your hands.
- RSI and Adverse Mechanical Tension Written by a sufferer in the UK, this is an article that discusses the difference between Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Repetitive Strain Injury and Adverse Mechanical Tension. Contains advice on treatments you can practice on yourself, at home or work. Get a diagnosis from your doctor before you try this.
- Muscle Pains A brief message from a US physician about Adverse Mechanical Tension.
- Biofeedback This is a collection of postings to a newsgroup about the benefits of biofeedback, Tai Chi, and yoga in learning to move in relaxed and natural ways.
Software to make you take breaks from your workstation
(These are not endorsements, but just a sampling of what's available for downloading or ordering from the Internet.)
Macintosh
- Coffee Break 3.2.1 (requires System 7 or above, 208K) Shareware price is $5.00. Coffee Break is a simple application that is designed to force you to take periodic breaks, so that you can reduce your chances of getting a Repetitive Strain Injury. You may set an amount of "work time," during which Coffee Break sits in the background with a timer displayed, and an amount of "break time," or "sleep time," during which you are forced to take a break from the computer.
- ErgoMinder software Commercial software from Sapiens Software in Australia. Reminds you to take breaks and has pictures and descriptions of exercises - in a laid-back down under style. Also available for Windows (3.x, 95, NT) and OS/2. Site licensing available for as little as $10/station. A demo version of the software, ErgoMinder Lite for Macintosh, is available for downloading free of charge. The full version of the software can be downloaded and used for 2 weeks free of charge.
Windows
- ErgoBreak for Office Commercial software from Vanity Software. Animated characters lead the user through stretching exercises. Breaks are triggered by tracking keyboard and mouse activity, and time. Also includes a "BreakBoard" area where employees can read news and bulletins from managers under an array of topics. Site licensing available.
- Screen Play 2.01 software A shareware screen saver manager from PC Dynamics that includes a typing break reminder alarm.
- Stress Away software A $19.95 program that will pop up text and photos to guide you through simple exercises.
- PowerPause 3.0 software Commercial software from Possibility Outpost. Reminds you to take breaks with pictures and descriptions of exercises. A demo version of the software is available for downloading free of charge.
- RSI-Manager software Commercial software from Applied Software Unlimited. Monitors your keystrokes and warns you when you are at risk and need to take a break. Sends data to a database for safety managers to review.
Web Sites, Gophers, FTP Archives and Electronic Publications on Ergonomics Information
- Typing Injury FAQ: General Information Wright, K.Scott. & Wallach, Dan. S. (1997). This is THE place to start when looking for online information. Links to most of the other resources listed on this page.
- Repetitive Strain Injuries Rob Hutten, Acadia University, Nova Scotia.
- RSI FAQ from IMPACC USA. This excellent FAQ points out that sustained posture contributes more towards injury than repetitive motion, and explains how two often overlooked factors - slouching and lack of arm support - lead to fatigue and injury.
- Computer-Related Ergonomic Problems & Solutions Agile Corporation, 1996. Features an overview of common computer-related ergonomics problems and solutions, and an index of ergonomics resources on the net.
- CTDNews A monthly print newsletter from the Center for WorkPlace Health on Cumulative Trauma Disorders. Includes safety products, statistics, description of CTD symptoms and exercises, and the draft OSHA ergonomics standard.
- A Patient's Guide to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Medical Multimedia Group. Excellent images of the anatomy of the carpal tunnel.
- ErgoWeb University of Utah Research Foundation. Workstation and job analysis tools, case studies, OSHA standards.
- RSI-UK This British Web site is for information exchange and support for people in the UK who suffer from Repetitive Strain Injury (tendonitis, tenosynovitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, etc.). The Web site offers information on treatment resources, advice agencies, publications, adaptive equipment, and official sources of help. There are also links to other RSI-related sites on the Web, to the RSI-UK mailing list and to other mailing lists.
- Disability-Related Resources Gopher St. John's University, Jamaica, New York.
- The Naeser Laser Home Treatment Program for the Hand An alternative, laser-stimulated acupuncture treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is described.
- Cornell Ergonomics Web Research in improving comfort and health through ergonomic design. Case studies of success stories in relieving symptoms of computer-related CTDs.
- University of California, San Francisco & Berkeley, Ergonomics Program This program encompasses research, graduate training, continuing education and consulting activities. Check out their "Tips for Healthy Computer Use" and "Tips for Mice".
- 3M Company's office ergonomics page. Look at their FAQ on office ergonomics and their ergonomics checklist .
Support Groups
RSI Newsletter
Some Articles on Ergonomics Issues
- TechTime articles on RSI Injuries Bill Peay, 1995. These articles were written by a sports massage therapist who worked with the 1984 Olympic rowing teams, and include a description of a self-massage technique to alleviate symptoms of tendonitis.
- Guidelines for Designing Effective and Healthy Learning Environments for Interactive Technologies Michael Weisberg, National Library of Medicine.
- Computers and Health. Mark Sheehan, University Computing Services Publications, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. This is a Hypertext document with descriptions of various risks involved in VDT use and tips on avoiding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Good diagrams of the carpal tunnel and workstation setup are included. LI Citations from Library Literature search
- Ergonomics: Adapting your job to you Techtalk, Vol. 13, No. 17, February 3, 1994
- The Ergonomic Workplace Joanna Russell, UT Austin Computation Center, November 1991
- Articles on the Feldenkrais Method
- Eliminating Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders . A 1995 newsletter from IMPACC USA.
Computers and Eyestrain
- American Academy of Opthalmology - Computers & Eyestrain American Academy of Ophthalmology, 1995. Can VDTs be associated with eyestrain? How can eyestrain be prevented? What are the special vision needs of VDT users?
- Your Eyes Come First Jim Seymour. An article from the 10/24/95 issue of PC Magazine that discusses eyestrain and the PRIO eye test.
- The EyeCare Connection Larry Bickford, O.D., 1996. Report on causes, symptoms and treatments for computer-related eye strain.
- Reducing Eyestrain from Video and Computer Monitors Charles A. Poynton, 1995. How to adjust your monitor for better viewing conditions.
- Eye2Eye: The Computer Eyestrain Journal The goal of this site is to provide the user with information to help control vision difficulties caused by prolonged VDT use. Scientific information about Computer Vision Syndrome, software, practical tips, and eye exercises are discussed. They are selling a product, but there is useful information here.
Pointing Devices
- Pointing Device Summary UCSF/UCB Ergonomics Program. How to determine if physical discomfort is being caused by mouse dragging, mouse clicking, your workstation setup, your posture, use of special keys on your keyboard, etc.
- Computer Mouse Traps ABC News article on how mouse use and poor posture can result in muscle tension and injuries, and what doctors recommend doing to avoid injury.
- Download Power Clicks A $3 shareware program that lets you remap your mouse button to a keyboard combination, make a key combination toggle the mouse button, and assign graphical effects to mouse clicks.
- The MOUSE-TRAK from ITAC Systems. This page is trying to sell a product, but the site does have some interesting information on mouse use and fatigue.
- Download StickyClick 1.2 A free Mac utility that allows menus to remain dropped down after one click on the menu bar. Relieves strain caused by holding the mouse button down and dragging at the same time. Click once on the menu bar to open all menus, move the pointer over the desired menu item, and click again to select it.
- Download AutoMenus Pro a shareware Mac control panel that automatically holds open menus when the cursor glides over them. Menu items can then be selected by clicking once on them.
- Download Kymous20.zip a Windows utility to simulate mouse functions with your keyboard. This comes from a larger list called MSDOS Special Access Shareware .
- Keystroke Modification and Mouse Emulation Various freeware, shareware and commercial software.
- Alternative/Ergonomic Pointing Devices Diana Carroll, 1996. Descriptions of and contacts for various brands of trackballs, mice, touchpads, etc.
Taking Care of Your Back
Disability Software
Shareware and freeware software exists to make computers easier to use for people with an existing disability. Some of this software can be very useful for people without a disability who simply need relief from having to use the mouse and keyboard. Some of this software can be time-saving as well.
UT Library Online | UT Austin Central Server
April 24, 1997
Send your comments and additions to $llergon@utxdp.dp.utexas.edu
