Chairs are designed to be sat in, not sat on and a good ergonomic chair is one that can be adjusted to fit the needs of the individual and the tasks they perform. Sitting properly means sitting up and sitting back in the chair and maintaining good posture is an effective step to reduce the potential for injury.
 

Keeping the head balanced over the spinal column will reduce tension in the neck, shoulders and back. To that end the monitor should be positioned directly in front of the eyes so the topmost row of characters is at or just below eye level. How many monitors are placed to the side of the desk for the sake of space? Think about the posture and the constant twist in the neck and shoulders that this produces.
 

The keyboard should be in a position so that the space bar is about the same distance from the floor as are the elbows. It is good practice to tilt your keyboard slightly away as is noted in the ergonomic keyboards that are available today. This helps maintain good hand and wrist positions, which will help to reduce tension in the hands, wrists and forearms.
 

We have all heard of deep vein thrombosis yet we sit for hours at our desks thinking it is so different from aircraft. Well, it isn't. So every twenty or thirty minutes get moving and stretch and do a quick series of exercises to reduce the strain particularly in the hand and wrist area. Exercise reduces the build up of tension and will give more energy to combat the rigours of the day.
 

A popular misconception is that arm rests on a chair are there to rest your arms on. Wrong! There are there to help you get in and out of your chair with a minimum of back stress...nothing more! Similarly, another misconception is that a wrist rest is designed to aid typing and to reduce RSI. Wrong! It is used to protect the arms and wrists from coming into contact with a sharp leading edge of a work surface. These items are often used as excuses to get supposed reduction on potential RSI problems but they only succeed in increasing the body’s in ability to absorb shock, increase muscle tension and reduce blood flow in and out of the hands.
 

Keep the things that are used often within easy reach paying attention to retaining a proper posture on the chair as described above. Constant stretching and straining to reach items used regularly is just as bad as poor posture and having fixed items badly placed.
 

Work it out. Someone that types at 50 words a minute for 45 minutes in each hour, for 6 hours each day. That is over 80,000 repetitive motions daily! Now, if that someone is a bit of a key "basher" those 80,000 moves combined with the 80,000 impacts at the end of those moves, dramatically increases the potential for an injury, and perhaps a sever one.
 

It is possible that known weaknesses in the upper part of the body might mean that someone would be more prone to developing a repetitive strain injury. Ultimately, each individual is responsible for their own well being and health regimen. Work so there is no pain or discomfort. After all, you are at the workplace a very long time each day. 
 

Exercise is good for you, we all know that. However, there are many activities that are enjoyed by many that use the muscles and soft tissues of the hands and arms to an excess. These can be things around the house plus gardening, bike riding, tennis and golf. It is important to decide what the personal priorities are. Moderation and body awareness are the keys.
 

It is very important to recognise the symptoms of repetitive strain injuries suffered by keyboard and mouse users. Ensure that the relevant people are informed should any symptoms of a repetitive nature be experienced and find out what you can do to address the problems. The company will not be able to assist if they are not aware of the situation. It is an individual's responsibility to alert the company as soon as possible. Early attention to ergonomic issues can significantly reduce the pain AND costs associated with repetitive injuries.