RSI cured in the Ming dynasty?

19-04-2007

I was recently diagnosed with RSI in my right hand. It was my own fault because I had never bothered to learn to type properly. My right hand types really fast while my left TABs, SHIFTs and ESCapes. Excessive use of computer keyboards over the last twenty years had finally taken its toll on my hand and the muscle pains were so bad that they prompted me to visit my GP who referred me to a physio.

While waiting for my appointment I was told to take it easy and restrict keyboard use. I took that to mean using my left hand more to type and to control the mouse.

A week later I was tidying my study and I came across some Baoding balls which I had purchased several years ago in China Town, Toronto. I took them downstairs and placed them on my coffee table where I find myself occasionally picking them up for no other reason than they are there. I've been spinning them as fast as I can clockwise then anti-clockwise in one hand, then switching them to the other hand as I watch TV. I'm getting pretty good with them. I can rotate my hands as I spin them without slowing down or dropping the balls. They chime as they spin but I tend to watch DVDs and listen to music with headphones on so I don't hear them.

I've been doing that for a week now, and guess what? I no longer have any symptoms of RSI. The muscles no longer ache as I type and my two middle fingers don't send shockwaves up the back of my forearm any more as I move them. The hand and my arm feels completely fine. I still intend on keeping my appointment with the physio just in case.

I'm still using the Baoding balls daily. I'm not sure if I'm completely free of RSI, but at least I have an exercise that works my muscles and rids me of the pain.