On Sat, 2007-10-20 at 07:36 +0930, Tim wrote: > On Fri, 2007-10-19 at 16:33 -0400, Robert P. J. Day wrote: > > it also does a lot to alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome since you're > > not constantly reaching for the shift key. > > Just out of curiosity, can you touch-type properly? (As apposed to self > taught, or hunt and peck.) I've yet to come across anybody with wrist > problems who was taught how to type on a manual typewriter. > > In a nutshell, you use the little finger of the opposite hand to use the > shift key. e.g. Left hand shift key, right hand letter p. Trying to > press two keys with the one hand does lead to pain. The technique of > using both hands together, probably more than anything else, is probably > the best way to avoid wrist pain. > > -- > [tim@bigblack ~]$ uname -ipr > 2.6.22.9-91.fc7 i686 i386 > > Using FC 4, 5, 6 & 7, plus CentOS 5. Today, it's FC7. > > Don't send private replies to my address, the mailbox is ignored. > I read messages from the public lists. > > > I do touch type, but 30 years of coding will have its effects. I, too have carpel tunnel. I programmed intensively for more than 20 years in C, two PASCAL like languages and a Fortran like language for mainframe integrated circuit test systems. It is just the result of too much wrist and finger action. The muscles and ligaments swell to deal with the strength and endurance and fill the tunnel, causing the pain and movement limits. Those wrist pads are supposed to help, but I don't see how, since the issue is not the wrists, but the structures that drive the fingers, at least if I understand the physiology. I have used the wristpads, and they seem to help with the support issue, but I still get the pain unless I use the braces. And those things are not fun to put on and take off when you start and stop typing to do other things. They limit your movement (that is their purpose), and make some things difficult. Regards, Les H
