Glossary

To better help you understand the information provide on this website and to better understand typing injuries in general, here is a short glossary of terms:

Blackberry thumb, Nintendo thumb, iPod finger – colloquial terms for RSI caused by the repetitive motions of using Blackberries, Nintendos , and iPods.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) – a common disorder of the wrist caused by compression of a nerve in the carpal tunnel at the wrist. Muscular weakness, pain, and tingling are symptoms.

Cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) – see repetitive strain injury

Dorsiflexion – the act of bending backward. In relation to and RSI, dorsiflexion is the bending of the wrists upward – it happens when your wrists are leaning on the desk when your keyboard is at the wrong height.

Ergonomics – also called human engineering, ergonomics is an applied science of equipment design intended to maximize productivity and reduce operator discomfort and fatigue.

Ganglion cyst – often occurring at the finger joints or wrist, the cyst is a small mass that forms beneath the skin. It can swell up when a joint is irritated. Many of these cysts are perfectly harmless. Others are associated with pain and/or restriction of movement. They are often caused by an overuse of the fingers and/or wrists.

Phalen’s test – this test is often used for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. It is a rather simple test – the patient places the backs of his or her hands together in a sort of twisted praying position (backs of the hands, not palms, touching each other). If the patient begins to feel a tingling in the thumb or fingers after holding this position for just a minute, he or she could have CTS.

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) – any of a number of debilitating disorders caused by the stress of repeated movements. Such an injury is typically characterized by tingling, numbness, pain, or complete loss of muscle control.

Radial deviation – bending your wrist towards your thumb

Tendonitis or tendinitis– an inflammation of the tendons characterized by pain and tenderness near a joint. Like general repetitive strain injuries, tendonitis is often associated with a repeated (or overly intense) specific movement. It is a common disorder in the wrists, forearms, elbows, and shoulders.

Tendon – tissue that connects muscles to bones

Trigger finger – a condition that affects the movement the fingers. The sheath around the finger tendons becomes swollen or calloused or swollen, preventing the tendon from moving smoothly. The finger gets locked into a bent position.

Ulnar deviation – bending your wrist toward your little finger.