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Books About Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)



Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Other Disorders of the Median Nerve
Richard B. Rosenbaum, Jose L. Ochoa (Contributor)
Hardcover - 358 pages (January 1993)
Butterworth-Heinemann; ISBN: 0750692294





Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Stress Injuries : The Comprehensive Guide to Prevention, Treatment and Recovery
Tammy Crouch
Paperback (December 1996)
North Atlantic Books; ISBN: 1883319501

Review by Amazon.com: Tammy Crouch, a former sign-language interpreter, had carpal-tunnel release surgery twice. Both surgeries were unsuccessful. She then learned about "alternative" therapies for her pain, including massage, osteopathy, acupuncture, and chiropractic, and she passes along her wisdom in this book.

Crouch stresses the importance of finding out exactly what type of RSI you have and of seeking conservative treatment instead of jumping in and having surgery like she did. This book also gives an excellent rundown and explanation of the diagnostic techniques that doctors use, from the innocuous Phalen's test to the often-excruciating electromyography nerve conduction test. While the explanations of different treatments could be more in-depth, they're a good primer if you're investigating your options. Crouch also includes information about worker's compensation plus an extensive list of resources-- organizations, Web sites, books, and articles--helpful for those learning how to treat these often chronic conditions.




Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: How to Relieve and Prevent Wrist "Burnout!"
by Rosemarie Atencio
Natl Court Reporters Assn; ISBN: 0963736019
Tel: (503) 935-1608





The Computer User's Survival Guide
Joan Stigliani, 1995, 1-56592-030-9
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
Tel: 707-829-0515
Fax: 707-829-0104
E-mail: nuts@ora.com
Home Page: http://www.ora.com

Like the earlier "Zap" (cf. BKZAP.RVW), this book covers the various physical ills that can be related to computer use. Stigliani covers the basics, RSI (repetitive strain injury) eyestrain, stress and EMF (electromagnetic fields). More research has gone into this work than went into "Zap", and the bibliography gives a good, broad sampling of related literature (if not, sometimes, the best in a given field). Throughout the book there are practical exercises that can help the normal user deal with complaints.

In the Preface, Stigliani recommends the book to managers and business people. This advice makes a lot of sense, since managers have much more control over the work environment in the office. Unfortunately, but in line with many other similar works, she fails to provide justification and background which would allow business owners to make a business case for committing the resources necessary to reorganize the workspace, and purchase more "healthy" equipment. In addition, business people may be uncomfortable to find some suggestions (such as the exhortation to ameliorate the effects of EMF by using crystal pendants) and the general tone of the writing to be a bit "New Age". It would be a mistake to see the book as "flaky" because of this minor predilection: the important parts of the book are thoroughly researched and well supported.

Practical help for users, a useful guide for managers and a good introduction for health practitioners.




Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Other Repetitive Strain Injuries: A Self-Care Program
Sharon J. Butler, Jacqueline Entwistle Freeman (Illustrator)
Paperback (April 1996) New Harbinger Pubns; ISBN: 1572240393

Review by amazon.com: Sharon Butler was working as a massage therapist and Hellerwork practitioner when she developed carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. Unable to sleep through the night because of the pain and concerned about her livelihood, she built upon her knowledge of connective tissue and developed a series of stretching exercises to gently relieve the tension in her body. After daily stretching in this way, her pain soon subsided. To prove that these exercises weren't just a fluke, Butler intentionally overworked her body to bring back her symptoms. While this may not have been the smartest move, her stretching program again relieved her pain.

The magic behind her powerful exercises is their focus on fascial tissue. Fascia, which is stronger than steel, holds the body together. It wraps around muscle fibers, bones, and tendons. (If you've ever looked at an uncooked piece of chicken and noticed the glistening white layer over the meat, you've seen fascia.) In people who overwork their bodies, the fascia hardens, a natural response to prevent future injury. Unfortunately, this stiffness worsens with repeated insults to the body. Muscles, nerves, and tendons tense up and inflame even more and may even adhere to each other. Metabolic waste products can build up and become trapped instead of being carried away by the lymph system, and even more pressure is placed on the affected body tissues.

Enter Butler's exercises. The book is arranged to let you pick and choose the correct stretches to suit your needs. Too much typing, guitar playing, or gardening? Stiff neck, tingling fingers, sore upper arms, or all three? However you developed your repetitive strain injury and whatever your upper-body symptoms (or if you're smart and you'd like to prevent such problems), there are multiple stretches in Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to suit your needs. The book is arranged to help users develop a personalized stretching program with more than 40 stretches for the upper body, forearms, wrists, fingers, and thumbs to choose from. Butler thoroughly explains the importance of stretching and the correct (and incorrect) way to do it, and the exercises are lucidly illustrated.




End Your Carpal Tunnel Pain Without Surgery : A Daily Program to Prevent and Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Kate Montgomery
Paperback - 160 pages (June 1998) Rutledge Hill Pr; ISBN: 1558535918

From amazon.com - Synopsis: Written for everyday people, this guide offers routines and exercises to help achieve a lifestyle free from the debilitating effects of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). The Montgomery 12-Step Method shows how it is possible to treat CTS in just ten minutes a day.




Ergaerobics : Why Does Working at My Computer Hurt So Much?
Perry Bonomo, Daniel Seidler, John Piser (Illustrator)
Paperback - 128 pages (August 1998)
Ergaerobics Inc; ISBN: 0966409000





Light at the End of the Carpal Tunnel
by Dr. Scott M. Fried
Paperback - 208 pages (January 1998)
Healing Books; ISBN: 0965926753





The Natural Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome : How to Treat 'Computer Wrist' Without Surgery
by Ray C. Wunderlich Jr., M.D.
Paperback (November 1993)
Keats Pub; ISBN: 0879836091





Repetitive Strain Injury: A Computer User's Guide
Emil Pascarelli and Deborah Quilter
Wiley & Sons, 1994. ISBN: 1-878069-035-7

Review by Amazon.com

This book has become a bible for those suffering from RSI. It explains what to ask your doctor (and why) when you go in for a diagnosis; it also lists more than two dozen types of RSI and related conditions, from cervical radiculopathy to reflex sympathetic dysfunction to fibromyalgia. If these terms sound intimidating, then the book succeeds in bringing them down to clear, manageable definitions.

Quilter and Pascarelli also delineate the causes of RSI that are often unconsidered, including being obese, typing while cradling the phone with your shoulder, and having long fingernails. They don't discuss many of the different surgeries used for RSI but instead choose to discuss the various kinds of physical and occupational therapy treatments; acupuncture; stretching; vitamins and nutrition; relaxation techniques, deep tissue massage, and guided visualization. There's also an extensive list of helpful tricks for adapting to living with RSI, from making changes in the kitchen to re-learning how to drive.

This is also the RSI book if you're looking for information on the psychological ramifications of RSI and how to handle both time off from work and the return to the office.




The Repetitive Strain Injury Recovery Book
Deborah Quilter, Deborah Quitter, Robert E. Markison
Paperback - 224 pages (February 1998)
Walker & Co; ISBN: 0802775144

Synopsis: This comprehensive strategy guide for recovery from Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) includes the best treatment and therapy options, both conventional and alternative; techniques to minimize the risk of further damage and help restore comfort and mobility, and much more .

From amazon.com: the author, Deborah Quilter dq@rsihelp.com , March 26, 1999:

This book is not intended to replace my first book, Repetitive Strain Injury: A Computer User's Guide. Rather, it contains new information I was not aware of when I wrote that book. Readers interested in up-to-date news about repetitive strain injury (RSI) may also visit Deborah Quilter's RSI Web Site, www.rsihelp.com. The site contains back issues of my Computer Currents columns, which include reviews of ergonomic products and other useful information.




The Repetitive Strain Injury Sourcebook
by Sandra Peddie, Craig H. Rosenberg, M.D. and Sandra Peddle
Hardcover - 224 pages (October 1997)
Lowell House; ISBN: 1565657918





RSI and the Experts
Hilary Arksey
Paperback - 296 pages (January 1999)
Ucl Press; ISBN: 1857288130





Shoulders, Upper Back, & Neck : Free Yourself from Pain! : Plus! Relief from Tension Headaches, Tmj & Eyestrain
by Rosemarie Atencio
Paperback 1 Ed edition (February 1995)
Natl Court Reporters Assn; ISBN: 0963736094





Zap!; How Your Computer Can Hurt You and What You Can Do about It
by Don Sellers
Paperback (February 1994)
Peachpit Pr; ISBN: 1566090210



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