Bad to the Bone

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/carpaltunnelsyndrome.html

This informative section of the Medline Plus Web site describes carpal tunnel syndrome, how to prevent it, and how to treat it. Also available in Spanish. Created by: The National Library of Medicine, Washington, DC. Don’t Miss: The interactive tutorial on carpal tunnel available in the overview section. Detour: For information on carpal tunnel syndrome geared to young kids, visit the KidsHealth Web site at kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/aches/carpal.html.

Computer Ergonomics for Elementary School
www.orosha.org/cergos

Visit this site’s “Workstation Set-up” section for practical advice on arranging ergonomic workstations in your library or school. There are helpful tips here, even if you don’t have a lot of money to spend. Created by: Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division, Salem, OR. Detour: An animated computer ergonomics tutorial appropriate for teens and adults can be found at www.bu.edu/ehs/flash/ergonomics%20selfhelp%20guide.swf.

Ergonomics
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ergonomics.html

Learning about ergonomics is one of the best ways to prevent painful repetitive stress injury (RSI). And one of the best Web resources is Medline Plus. Here you’ll find lots of links to topical information, and the latest news from the Mayo Clinic and other authoritative sources. If you’re working with Spanish-speaking kids or parents, click on the yellow “Espanol” tab in the top righthand corner to access selected translated information. Created by: The National Library of Medicine, Washington, DC.

Ergonomics for Children & Educational Environments
education.umn.edu/kls/ecee/default.html

This site’s loaded with updated information on ergonomics and kids, including ergonomic guidelines for children. Of special interest is the “Computer Work Area Checklist for Students,” which can be found under “Guidelines.” Created by: International Ergonomics Association, Technical Committee. Don’t Miss: A particularly useful link called “Ergonomics for Grade School Students Using Laptop Computers.”

Repetitive Stress Injuries
www.kidshealth.org/teen/exercise/safety/rsi.html

Adults aren’t the only ones at risk for RSI. With so many kids spending hours at the computer, both at home and at school, it’s not surprising that they’re suffering related aches and pains. This great series of five short articles is written especially for teens and covers how to take care of oneself, what a doctor can do to help, and more. Created by: Nemours Center for Children’s Health Media, Washington, DC. Detour: For younger readers, KidsHealth has a nice, brief article entitled “Computers Can Be a Real Pain.” You can find it at www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/k_ergonomics.html.