How does PDAs and Wii Games affect your ergonomic

Preventing the overuse of gadgets and games, such as PDAs or Wii play stations, is a two-fold issue. On the one hand, designers must create devices that are comfortable and easy to use. Yet consumers need to understand how the body works and use common sense.

1. Comfort and posture
Modify the environment to ensure you are comfortable and maintain a relaxed posture.

When using PDAs:
• Keep your wrists as straight as possible; avoid bending them up and down and to the sides.
• Minimize neck bending and twisting.
• Try to rest your arms when possible or let them fall relaxed at the sides of your body.
• Use a chair that provides lower-back support and natural body posture.

When playing a Wii game:
• When using a traditional classic controller, rest your arms on a pillow, if possible.
• Make sure there’s room around your legs when playing Wii.
• Position the gaming television in front of you—not on the side—and put it at eye level so you aren’t looking up at it all the time. “If you can’t move the TV or monitor, move yourself up—stand or use a higher chair, for example,” says Schiller.

2. Force
“Hold the device gently, with relaxed hands. A PDA or a game controller doesn’t require a lot of activation force—only a light touch,” explains Schiller.  Also be aware of hazards in your environment. “If you rest your arms on a sharp edge, the edge is creating a force back to you, potentially cutting off circulation,” she adds.  

3. Length and frequency of use
Take breaks and change tasks to relax the whole body or certain muscles. “After using the PDA for a time, put it down and do some filing or talk on the phone—give the muscles a break. Also, consider occasionally using your finger instead of your thumbs to operate your PDA.”

4. Overall health
With many factors influencing musculoskeletal disorders, overall fitness and flexibility is important. “Eat a balanced diet, build up flexibility, do strength exercises and learn to manage your stress. Don’t wait for pain to go to the doctor; any tingling, numbness, burning or aching are warning signs you shouldn’t ignore—that’s the stage when you can catch the issue and change your behavior. Pain requires a lot more work to get back to being healthy—or the issue may become chronic, as with carpal tunnel or tendonitis,” she says.