Computer Ergonomics

Cumulative Trauma or CTDs is a wear and tear of the bony and soft tissue components of a joint because of overuse. In my San Diego based chiropractic clinic, I treat people on a daily basis who suffer from CTDs. CTDs can result from poor lifting habits, straining the neck, long hours of light force repetition without adequate rest time, awkward reaching, etc.

The irritation that results in Cumulative Trauma disorders accumulates over time, eventually resulting in a breakdown of the involved joint or joints and its muscles and ligaments. Symptoms from CTDs include soreness, pain, restricted range of motion, numbness, cracking noises in joints, weakness and clumsiness.

The potential end result of cumulative trauma disorders can be hand pain, wrist pain, neck pain, back pain, elbow pain, shoulder pain and leg pain.

What is the best cure for CTDs? Prevention. Application of good ergonomic principles to your work environment as well as tasks that you undertake outside of work is vital. A CTD may takes years to start causing symptoms and can also take a prolonged period of care to resolve. CTDs that go untreated can potentially cause permanent disability or symptoms that never completely resolve.

CTDs are serious and should be treated that way.

Here’s To Your Health

Dr. Jones

San Diego Chiropractic Center
Pain Relief San Diego Chiropractor Blog

As a practicing San Diego Chiropractor who has concerns for my patients’ well being, I get out of my office frequently in order to check up on my patients, ergonomic situations.

Poor computer ergonomics account for a substantial percentage of the conditions that my patients complain of.

The typical patient that presents to my office with neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, elbow pain or carpal tunnel syndrome has a poor ergonomic set up that is fueling their symptoms. Often times, there are easy or inexpensive “fixes” for these ergonomic issues.

If your monitor is too low for example, you have the option of very inexpensive fixes as well as very expensive fixes. For a cheap fix that is actually free, you could raise your monitor on a stack of phone books. On the other hand, you could purchase a wall or desk mounted monitor arm and spend hundreds of dollars.

The same is true for keyboard tray solutions. I bought my keyboard tray from Fry’s for about $20.00. It works great for my application. There are keyboard trays, however, that cost hundreds of dollars. Some inexpensive computer desks with keyboard trays only cost a few hundred dollars.

Another example of ergonomic solutions is my Ergo Nav mouse pad. A regular mouse pad that sits on your desk and is not ergonomic may cost $5 to $20. My Ergo Nav, that mounts to your computer chairs armrest retails between $40 and $70 while some mouse platforms sell for well over $100.

Ergonomic solutions are not always expensive but can save you a great deal in future medical costs if implemented sooner rather than later.

Here’s To Your Health

Dr. Jones

Economical Adjustable Mouse Platform

San Diego Chiropractic

Pain Relief San Diego Chiropractor

Ergonomic Forum Ergonomic Mouse Pad