The two main weight loss systems I’ve been discussing while developing over at the Health Hacks Podcast are the Health Hacks Amalgamated Frankendiet and the Park Far From Work exercise system.
Here are some new insights and factoids:
I counted the steps in the parking garage; 92
Weight loss as of this morning (since last week); 4 LBS
Decrease in pants size in 2 weeks; 1
Another new diet rule; no reading at lunch- just sit and eat, preferably with eyes closed.
Sample menus are under development. This Wednesday, you’ll be able to hear me brainstorming a few on the new podcast, Episode 4.
Fresh back from vacation, I’m glad to bring you a round up of the most interesting (per me) recent articles from a favorite site of ours (mine), MedGadget.
While we’ve been a bit remiss lately about posting on ergonomic topics, the responses to our last two posts have reminded us that Ergo is a bread-and-butter topic for us. Here’s an interesting email we received from Claude Rallins, the president of a company called MouseMassager.com:
I just discovered Health-Hack[.com] and was reading your review of the new (ergonomic) pen-shaped mouse. I agree with your point about folks reporting repetitive strain from pens as well as from a computer mouse. Despite the ergo-design Any device can and will result in repetitive strain when used often enough.
In any case, the key to avoiding device generated RSI is less a (cold-hard) device design issue and more a body maintenance and posture issue. My partner (Dr. T. Jackson) and I think we have the solution to mouse generated RSI (Geek) computer health issues. Its called the Mouse Massager… a soft multi-layered piece of a fabric technology (patent pending) that you can read all about at… Mouse Massager.com!
Thanks for your time,
Claude Rallins, President
Mouse Massager.com / Handy Massager.com
Although we have not tested the Mouse Massager, from the website the “Fabric Technology” appears to be simply a shock absorber made of four 15″X15″ layers of polyester. The “device” is placed under the mousing arm from the elbow up to the point of just overlapping the mouse itself. Now there may be more to it, since the Mouse Massager is claimed to provide massage for the arm and wrist, but how this is acheived is not apparent from their promotional materials.
If you have tried the Mouse Massager, please let us know about your opinion and experience of it.
Last year we discussed the Typematrix 2030 ergonomic keyboard system (Breaking the keyboard layout rules… June ‘05), novel for having the keys laid out in a radically redesigned grid configuration.
I recently came across the following video illustrating its design principles:
The alternative input device company WowPen USA is offering a line of variations on a pen-shaped pointing device that can also be used for handwriting input for Windows systems.
The overall goal of the WowPen is an ergonomic user experience that the manufacturer claims will provide “No wrist pain (RSI)”. The theory on which that claim is made seems to be that the wrist is cocked at approximately a 45ยบ angle compared to a standard mousing position.
While we have no doubt that some users may have a problem-free experience using this device -we have not tested it ourselves- it must be noted that people do sometimes get wrist pain and RSIs using real pens, so their claims should not be looked at as any kind of guarantee.
It is certainly an interesting-looking concept and may well be of benefit to some. As always we remind our readers that no one product is ergonomically correct for every person. If you’ve tried a WowPen, please let us know what you think!
InformationWeek wants to know (rhetorically), Is Your Computer Killing You?
They have posted an article addressing the myriad ways that computer can cause aches, pains and discomfort to us and our world.
Some of the addressed topics in this six-page article include:
Your Arms And Hands
Your Waistline
Your Shoulders
Your Eyes
Your Circulation
Your Back And Neck
Your Head
Your Sleep
Your Emotional Well-Being
Your Planet
One thing to note, however is that this article does not take into account recent research showing that among repetitive strain injuries, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is only rarely caused by computer use.
According to new research from the Harvard Med school, long-term computer use can lead to a variety of Repetative Strain Injuries, but probably not specifically Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
RSI pain from improper computer use, poor working posture and other workplace ergonomic problems can occur in the neck, shoulders and other parts of the body in addition to the hands and wrists. Actual cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the study claims, are far more likely to arise from factors such as weight, genetics, stress fractures or even pregnancy.
Interestingly, the comments on the story are quite skeptical, with some readers even asserting that Harvard has a legal interest in disproving the computing/Carpal Tunnel Syndrome connection.
Ergonomic computer accessory manufacturer Key Ovation has announced what they are calling, “… the first fully adjustable ergonomic keyboard for Macintosh users.”
Apparently, Key Ovation’s GoldTouch Macintosh keyboard is fully adjustable and features Right and Left Apple and Option Keys, as well as CD Eject, Mute, Power and Volume Control. It does not feature an attached keypad, though, so if this is a dealbreaker for you, you may want to stick with the Apple Pro keyboard.
Are you using an ergo keyboard on a Mac? Did you need to adapt it or did it work “off-the-shelf”? Who is the manufacturer?
Washington Post reporter Robin Wright got herself a fancy ergonomic chair for her office. It seemed to be causing arm pain.
The company nurse suggested adjusting the chair’s arm rest. Unfortunately, Ms. Wright is not an Occupational Therapist or an ergonomic specialist.
Whatever change she made did not rectify the problem (which actually turned out to be an aggravation of a pre-existing calcium deposit in her arm).
Wright now suffers a permanent injury to her shoulder as a result.
According to ErgoWeb, Before denouncing her medical treatment at length, she blamed the chair. “Ergonomics pays little attention to office chair armrests, but they can trigger serious problems - and complications,” she concluded.
This idea demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of ergonomics.
Ergonomic chairs are ergonomic because they are designed to be adjustable to the fit the needs of the individual. If one is not able or qualified to make such an adjustment on her own, there are professionals out there who are glad to come and do it for you. It is unreasonable to expect that any chair is going to be set up correctly for any specific person by default.
Once again, I repeat our ergonomic mantra: “Ergonomics are not Universal“.
[Amazon]
The alternative input device company WowPen USA is offering a line of variations on a pen-shaped pointing device that can also be used for handwriting input for Windows systems.
According to new research from the Harvard Med school, long-term computer use can lead to a variety of Repetative Strain Injuries, but probably not specifically Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. 
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