I frequently get calls from people who have been told they have RSI and want to know which mouse would be the best choice for relieving their symptoms. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it was as simple as selecting the right pill to get an instant cure?

RSI or Repetitive Strain Injury is an all encompassing term that covers a multitude of symptoms and conditions, but isn’t a diagnosis in itself. It’s more of a general term like “sports injury” which could mean a bump on the head or sprained ankle.

When you think about it most ailments will get the default advice of “take 2 paracetemol and stay in bed” regardless of what might be wrong. It seems to be a method for finding out if your own defence systems will deal with the problem if given a couple of days to get on with it and if you don’t get better presumably you will come back. It is not uncommon to hear some doctors recommending that the best way to cure Repetitive Strain Injury is to stop repeating the activity that is causing the strain, which results in the injury.

For most of us advice that involves a complete career change that excludes use of a computer is unrealistic so in fact there are only two practical options; avoid getting the problem in the first place, or develop a means of managing it so that you can still work on a computer.

Avoidance is a really good plan. Anyone who has suffered an RSI can tell you how miserable it can be and how shockingly serious its impact is on your working life.

Here are some tips for avoidance of RSIs that will help you continue to work at your computer without suffering. These also apply if you already have an RSI but be prepared to work at it even harder to get results.

1. Adjust your working area to suit you – not the other way around.

2. If your equipment is not positioned correctly and you can not adjust it – it is not ergonomic and you will suffer as a result.

3. Invest in a good adjustable chair. It may seem expensive at first but it is far more effective (and comfortable) than visiting a chiropractor.

4. Get your desk to the right height for you – not what your chair will allow. You can do this by inserting small blocks of wood under the feet or saw a bit off its too high (if you share a workspace a height adjustable desk makes life much easier for all)

5. Get a fully adjustable, Goldtouch keyboard. These are quite simply the best, You can read up on why by Googling “Goldtouch keyboard”

6. Get another mouse or even better get two, and keep the one you have. Keep switching between them so that you minimise the repetition. Get different ones, a trackball might feel a bit strange at first but you will get used to it. Vertical mice help a great deal to reduce twisting or pronation in the wrist

7. Get a document holder that can sit over and behind your keyboard. There are lots to choose from, the Microdesk will fit over the Goldtouch and gives lots of space for papers. The key feature is that you want to keep all your work in a straight line head up position

8. Get your monitor at the right height and distance. Monitor arms are really good for this, easy to use with flat screens and free up space on your desk. If you must use a laptop screen then make sure you have a stand to get it the right height and always use an external keyboard and mouse

9. Always use RSIGuard Software. This is an absolute essential. Don’t think it can’t happen to you. RSIGuard is a very simple software package that will show you how your behaviour is hurting you.

10. Make changes now. Your body can handle a lot of abuse, but when it gives up – you are in big trouble, and the road back is painful and slow. Some people never recover.

Paul Goddard is an Education Officer at Keytools and a well known Repetitive Strain Injury expert. He claims that RSI problems are easily preventable and his company, Keytools provides assistive technology for people with Repetitive Strain Injury including the RSIGuide software for prevention of Repetitive Strain Injury