On Thu, Jan 27, 2005 at 08:50:17AM -0800, Philip Hart wrote: > > On Thu, 27 Jan 2005, Jose Marquez wrote: > > > As a translator and as a software developer, I'm surprised that I > > haven't exhibited any symptoms of RSI. Does playing the piano really > > alleviate this sort of thing to the extent that I haven't had any issues > > so far despite my less-than-ergonomic keyboards, chairs and desks? > > Anybody know how much of an impact the playing of an instrument can have > > on fending off RSI? > > Speculatively: playing an instrument well requires the ability to keep the > hands from tensing and to be aware of fatigue. For some (all?) > instruments good posture and correctly-maintained body position are > also essential. Those might carry over into typing. > > I play the flute, and as far as I know it's just not a perfect instrument > from an ergonomic point of view. The viola is supposed to be worse. > Probably there's some interplay between wear from performing and the above > effects. I know several musicians who have developed RSI of various kinds - one was a pianist whose problem was related to a specific set of motions required for a particular passage, and further exacerbated by playing in general. It cleared up with a few weeks of taking it easy and avoiding the passage that set it off in the first place. Another was a violinist who had tendonitis something fierce in her elbow. This required a break of several months plus medical intervention to fix. The third person I know played clairinet, had something start going wrong with her thumb in early high school, and by the time she was mid-way through college, she had to give up the instrument entirely or lose the use of that hand. I'm a percussionist, and I have RSI, but not from playing. So, to answer the question(s), it probably depends on genetics. There are lots of people out there who use a keyboard or play an instrument all day long and never have problems with it. There are lots of people who take every ergonomic precaution they can, but who still get RSI. Jose, you likely have good genes, enjoy. Kat