Avoiding Repetitive Motion Injury

As I mentioned yesterday, theinterpretersfriend.com is down permanently.

I have been able to find a new copy of the overuse syndrome paper written by Gary Sanderson. It is a pdf linked here.

And here is a part of the article, originally published in the 1980's, in case we lose it again. It may be old, but many of the suggestions are still valid.

"...In order for most interpreters to keep their heads above water financially, we have to interpret any and all assignments to pay for normal living expenses such as health insurance and rent. Instead of heeding the warning signs our bodies have been giving us, we have kept on working and working (and still do) "just in case." "Just in case" there is no work next week or "just in case" spring break is coming up. The list of "just in case's" is endless. So interpreters work all day, every day, and "just in case" interprets a few night jobs too...."

Read the article, see if it fits your circumstances. Find ways to rest and ways to warm up and cool down. As Gary said, we must start to think of ourselves as athletes using muscles and tendons in ways uncommon to the non-interpreter (unless they are perhaps word processors and computer-philes)


Here are the exercise suggestions (signer-cises) developed at California State University Northridge as a result of their study.


General tips
Avoid signing when hands are cold.

Exercise and stretch in non-painful ranges (know the difference between "stretch" and "pain").

There should be no pain after stretching or exercising.

Warm-up exercises
Open and close your fists rapidly 5-10 times.

Circle your wrists counter clockwise and clockwise 5-10 times in each direction.

Spread and close your fingers 5-10 times for each hand.

Sign the alphabet at a moderate speed once.

Shake your hands out. This should be done anytime hands feel tight

Stretching exercises
Place hands in prayer position with only your fingertips touching, lift elbows and press your fingers in a backward direction. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times.

Put your arm out straight with your palm facing down, bend at wrist and push down on the back of your hand with your opposite hand. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times then change hands.

Put your arm out straight with your palm facing up, push your fingers downward with your opposite hand (wrist should bend backward). Repeat 5 times, holding for 5 seconds. Change hands.

If any of these exercises or activities causes you pain, stop.

Developed by: Janet Yapp, R.P.T. of California State University, Northridge, California
1 December 1984