UNHCE Information Technology & Distance Education Blog

It's been proven that short stretch breaks are a good way to decrease the likelihood of developing a repetitive motion disorder, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. There are many ways you can accomplish this. Getting up and walking to the copying machine, getting your mail, or getting a drink of water part way through a project, rather than staying glued to your computer for hours on end, are some simple examples.

While sitting at your computer, having something like a stress ball (a small, soft, tennis-ball sized ball which you squeeze), is a way to change muscle movements to stretch & relax muscles in your hands, wrist, and even lower arms.

Several stretching exercises have already been posted in the ergonomics section of this Blog, including:

Shoulder Stretches
Copy Machine Stretches
and
Hand & Wrist Stretches

Search the Blog for these, or select ergonomics on the side bar for a list of postings with information on ergonomics and exercises.

If you're looking for ideas for easy exercises during a break, this brief, one-minute promo for a commercial product demonstrates some useful examples:
http://www.easydesktopyoga.com/wp-content/themes/LetterHead/video.php