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What's the greatest medical problem facing the computer industry? Most people guess carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, or more generally, some form of computer-related repetitive strain injury. While those may be the common injuries brought on by repetitive computer use, it is reasonable to argue that the real problem is a lack of ergonomic awareness and a widespread denial that these injuries can occur to anyone.

Consider this experiment. Tell an asymptomatic person about a new ergonomic "solution" and they're likely to tell you that they know someone who could "really use something like that." It's rare for the person who is pain-free to think that they need to examine their own ergonomic situation or that they might be injuring themselves. But millions of people are well on their way to symptomatic injuries and simply aren't aware of it yet. These people are prime candidates for ergonomic improvements, but without awareness, are unlikely to take preventative steps.

By definition, repetitive strain injuries occur over a period of time. By the time someone feels pain, the majority of the injury has already occurred. At that point, people may consider changing their ergonomic situation or perhaps eliminating the offending activity altogether. But by raising awareness of these issues early, people can find ways to avoid these injuries before they become debilitating. By taking preventitive measures, the rapid increase in repetitive strain injuries can be slowed and perhaps reversed.

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Ron Goodman is a software engineer who was diagnosed with tenosynovitis and deQuervain's syndrome in 1998. After an unsuccessful search for useful RSI-related software, he wrote an innovative application designed to help prevent repetitive strain injuries. The program, RSIGuard, can be downloaded for free at http://www.rsiguard.com.