List of repetitive strain injury software

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is the general term for condition that affect the body's muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, bones and nerves. Repeated actions carried out over a period of time in which there is a "load" (e.g. action requiring force) to the body can result in MSDs. The prolonged use of IT equipment can result in MSDs, in particular in work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) when carried out as part of a person's work activity. These are sometimes also referred to as repetitive strain injury (RSI). It should be noted however that prolonged use of computers may cause other MSDs (e.g. back problems) and adverse health outcomes, and that there are many other sources of WRULDs.

This article discusses and lists specialized software that is available to aid individuals avoid injury or manage current discomfort/injury associated with computer use. Although the list is not complete, it does include several applications that have been in use for 10+ years.

Software categories

Software solutions generally address 1 or more of these functional categories:

• Break reminder – Some tools remind you to take breaks based on factors like elapsed time, how much/intensely you are working, natural rest patterns, times of day, and more.
• Activity Mitigation – Some tools let you reduce the amount you need to type or mouse (e.g. speech recognition tools, automatic clicking tools, hotkey/macro tools).
• Tracking – Some tools track information like how long you work each day, break-taking patterns, repetitions (e.g. keystrokes, mouseclicks). Some tools have much more sophisticated statistics, including predictive risk assessments based on fairly sophisticated and research-based methodologies. Some tools also include discomfort assessments and reporting tools to help you find associative patterns between objectively collected statistics and subjectively reported discomfort information.
• Networking – Some tools are able to handle multiple-computer use (e.g. for profiles settings or for aggregating usage statistics) via networked data, including the ability to handle intermittent connectivity.
• Training – Some tools include a training component with information on topics including: workstation setup, body positioning, work-efficiency tips, psycho-social information, and more.

Break reminders

This can be an important component for many users. Considerations for selecting a tool include the mechanism the tools uses to decide when to alert you to take a break, how it tells you to take a break, and how flexibly the tool can meet your particular needs.

Many tools are simple timers (e.g. remind me to rest every 60 minutes). That may work well if your job requires constant and consistent computer work, but can be irritating if you don't work constantly on the computer because breaks will often be suggested when you weren't working much prior to the suggestion. Other tools consider your natural rests and delay break suggestions accordingly. Some tools also consider your activity, and will suggest breaks sooner/later during periods of intense/light activity. These tools can be less frustrating to people whose computer work is interspersed with other activity throughout the day.

The various mechanisms for reminding you to take a break can include visual and audio indicators, workflow limiters (e.g. popup windows, screen dimmers/blankers), and much more. The best tools allow you to select which of these mechanisms you want to use.

Flexibility is important since each person has different needs. Some tools have extensive customization capability that allows you to configure exactly how and when breaks will be suggested. Features to enforce breaks can also be helpful to people who want to take breaks but whose personalities are such that they have a hard time stopping work. Some tools have advanced features like the ability to block break suggestions during some activities (e.g. when showing a presentation, or in full-screen mode).

Activity mitigation

Applications with these tools seek to mitigate the impact of particular activities by either changing or reducing the associated exposure. This could involve changing or reducing input device use, improving a user-interface to reduce stress, speeding up a process to reduce the time a user needs to be at the computer, etc.

An example of a tool that changes the impact would be speech recognition. Speech recognition replaces keyboard (and sometimes mouse) input with vocal input. This type of solution can be very helpful at reducing some types of strain, but it's important to recognize that another significant strain may be created.

An example of a tool that reduces the impact would be a hotkey tool or automatic clicking tool. These tools ideally reduce the number of keystrokes and mouse clicks that a user need do to accomplish a particular task. You can find a list of software names in the Category:Automation software.

An example of a tool that reduces the impact would also be breathing scrolling. Breathing scrolling requires no mouse or keyboard for scrolling. It uses microphone to scroll websites.

A tip, in order to use the mouse less often in the software menus, is to learn the keyboard shortcuts.

Partial list of solutions

This is an alphabetical list, This list does not rank application quality, nor is it complete. Many other applications exist. A "pages-of-Google-hits" score is provided with the reference to each program's home page.^{[lower-alpha 1]}

AntiRSI

AntiRSI is a program for OS X that helps prevent RSI (repetitive strain injury) and other computer related stress. It does so by forcing you to take regular breaks, yet without getting in the way. It also detects natural breaks.^[1]

Auto Mouse

AutoMouse software lets users click their mouse using keyboard hotkeys. By eliminating the need to click the mouse altogether, the strain associated with clicking is also eliminated. For highly repetitive form-based computer work, AutoMouse can also click the mouse when the cursor stops moving (e.g resting a cursor on a button will click that button). As a result of its patent-pending design, there are no restrictions on mouse gestures such as drag-and-drop and repetitive-clicking. The mouse remains fully functional to the user but without the need to physically click the mouse.^[2]

AT Mouse

AT Mouse allows for PC users to use the keyboard to navigate the mouse pointer in a very efficient way using the keyboard keys. This way the use of a regular or dedicated mouse device is avoided, and the typing posture may be optimized for keyboard usage. As a result RSI symptoms can be avoided or reduced. The solution is also targeting users that only wants to boost productivity, as well as users with reduced dexterity.^[3]

CIP - Computer Injury Prevention Program

CIP software provides a holistic injury prevention approach. CIP is a coati character which pops up on your computer screen every hour (serving as a break reminder) and takes the computer user through a series of short but effective injury prevention exercises. The exercises are for the users eyes, hands, wrists, shoulders and legs. The program targets eye strain, repetitive strain injury and deep vein thrombosis.^[4]

CtrlWORK - Efficiency Software

CtrlWORK helps employees perform computer tasks faster, better and with less effort. CtrlWORK prevents both physical and mental fatigue, thereby improving health and demonstrably improving performance. .^[5]

Dragon NaturallySpeaking, speech recognition software

Software used by many disability users other than RSI as well. Actions may be verbally dictated or controlled by a mouse.^[6]

EyeLeo

EyeLeo reminds to take breaks regularly, shows you simple eye exercises and prevents you from using computer at break times.^[7]

Healthy Hints

software that will detect your periods of computer usage, recommends when a rest break is due and gives you a 5-star achievement rating. Also displays information on other factors that can affect your wellbeing as a computer user, such as lighting and posture.^[8]

Mouse keys

Some operating systems allow using the numpad as a mouse.

PastTense

Software for which a number of different configuration options can be defined, each of which contains one or more timers to remind the user to have a rest. Timers can be set to remind the user of anything from taking a short walk around the office every hour to stretching the user's wrists every 30 seconds – the user defines the reminder message.^[9]

Rest

A commercial app for OS X and Windows that supports many features, including preventing the user from working, showing exercise suggestions, sync with a mobile (iOS) app for reminders on the go & automatic break detection for a completely distraction-free use.^[10]

RSI-Shield

RSI-Shield provides breaks and can operate the computer. The user can record frequently made operations, so they can be replayed.^[11]

RSI Guard

Software that suggests breaks based on work intensity as well as natural rest patterns, insuring that breaks are recommended when they're really needed. During breaks, RSIGuard shows stretch suggestions via 31 clear video demonstrations. Includes automatic clicking tool to eliminate mouse clicks, and a hot-key tool to reduce mousing/typing. Tracks your work patterns to help you improve and identify risk areas.^[12]

RSIStopWatch

Windows software that allows work and rest periods to be configured, with idle periods taken into consideration. Includes the option of reduced work periods late in the day. Includes easy to read countdown timers. During rest periods, the display is covered to enforce the rest period and RSIStopWatch suggests activities. This rest display can be customized with your own posture/stretch reminder, or just your favorite photo. Includes mini rest posture and stretch reminders. Includes a hot-key tool to reduce mousing. Logs work and rest periods.^[13]

SmartBreak

SmartBreak reminds you to take breaks when working on a PC for long hours. Unlike similar programs which remind you to take breaks at fixed intervals, SmartBreak actually monitors the way you spend time on a PC and then prompts you to rest at the appropriate time. This effectively means that you can spend more time in front of a PC with very efficient break time utilization. SmartBreak not just reminds you to take breaks but can also enforce users to take a break, which is especially useful for kids when combined with the child lock option.^[14]

Stretch

Stretch is an app to have people take a break and stretch with easy-to-follow and attractive user interfaces.^[15]

StretchClock

StretchClock is a customizable stretch reminder for office professionals and computer users. The time between breaks is configurable (one hour is recommended). During each break StretchClock shows a quick and easy stretch video, with directions that can usually be followed in an office environment. The no-sweat exercises are specifically targeted to prevent the problems that computer users most commonly develop.^[16]

Voice Finger

Software that uses speech recognition to control the keyboard and mouse by voice commands. Voice Finger was made by a developer with Repetitive Strain Injury, and was designed to eliminate the need to touch the computer at any time.^[17]

WorkPace

Software that helps avoiding Repetitive Strain Injury at the computer by educating about muscle fatigue and recovery, providing basic and work/rest ratio timers to alert you to take micro-pauses and breaks, and monitoring the user's exposure and intensity of computer use and providing the user with feedback on progress.^[18]

WorkRave

Workrave An open-source free program that assists in the recovery and prevention of repetitive strain injury. The program frequently alerts user to take micro-pauses, rest breaks and restricts user to a predefined daily limit.^[19]

Break reminders

See also

• List of speech recognition software

Notes

References

• Damany, Suparna; Bellis, Jack (2000). It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome! RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals. Philadelphia: Simax. ISBN 0-9655109-9-9. OCLC 44390085. 
• "Repetitive Strain Injury Software". Typing Injuries FAQ. Retrieved 22 October 2011.