Stress In Banking Occupational Hazard

The data entry employee at the operations center woke up in the middle of the night with an unbelievable pain in her hands. She said later that they "felt like they were on fire."

She went to see her doctor, who recommended an orthopedic surgeon to her. The diagnosis was Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), that can cause pain anywhere from the neck to the fingertips.

Word processors, secretaries, data entry workers, computer programmers-anyone who spends long hours typing on a computer keyboard is at risk. As are others whose jobs require them to use their hands in repetitive motions for prolonged periods of time, such as cashiers or tellers.

The common factor in all Repetitive Strain Injury is overuse of muscle tendons. This causes inflammation, pain and swelling, which in turn can cause nerve damage. When it gets to this stage the victim becomes disabled.

It's interesting to note that computer keyboards cause RSI, when after many years of use of manual typewriters no such problem came to light. Keyboards seem much lighter to the touch, and there is no paper to put in, no carriage to push back after each line. And that may be just the reason. Someone working at a computer keyboard holds his/her hands, arms, back and neck in the exact same position for hours at a time. This stresses the same muscles and tendons constantly. At a manual typewriter, you perform various tasks, changing position with each task.

If the design of the workstation is incorrect for you, and leads to awkward body positions, it will put extra strain on muscles and tendons, and may pinch nerves.

Add stress to all of this-shoulder hunch, tense muscles, rigid posture-and you have an even greater chance to develop Repetitive Strain Injury.

Symptoms
Among the many forms of RSI, the one receiving the most attention is carpal tunnel syndrome. This is pain which is caused by pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. Other common forms include tennis elbow and tendinitis.

Neck and shoulder pain are the most common, although experts say about 20 percent of all cases are hand and wrist problems. And some severe enough to seek medical help. And in very rare cases RSI can lead to complete disability. If recognized early enough, damage caused by Repetitive Strain Injury can be halted or even reversed.

Watch for pain or numbness or tingling in the fingers, hands, forearms, shoulders or neck, swelling of the hands, pain when moving hands, or trouble using fingers.

How to avoid RSI
Position your monitor 20 to 24 inches away. The top of the screen should be a bit below your line of sight.

Use a document holder if you have to switch your gaze between paper and screen.

Keep your wrists in a straight line-not bent up or down.

Get up and move around at least once every hour. Gently move shoulders and gently shake arms and hands loose.

Don't pound the keys: It's hard on the keyboard, and even harder on you.

Learn some relaxation exercises. Progressive muscle relaxation is recommended. (That was covered in an earlier HOTLINE.)

Dr. Sigafoos will return in the next issue with his third in a series on teller trauma.

Copyright © 1991 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 2, No. 3, 4/91