RSI in 2nd and 3rd world countries?

This semester at SIMS, I have had to struggle with a repetitive strain injury (RSI) from typing on my powerbook so damn much. After starting to sit right, minimizing computer use, wearing wrist braces at night, starting to do push-ups again, buying some dimp gel pads, buying an ergonomic keyboard and taking 600 mg of Ibuprofen (Advil) at a time, I've been able to keep it at bay.

This got me wondering... what about people in 2nd and 3rd world countries that work a manufacturing line for 12 hours per day? Are they immune to RSI? I think not. I bet they either 1) work through the pain and find a way to work that hard and not get injured or 2) ignore their injury or 3) they must have to leave a given job after it becomes too painful. I wonder what the turn-over rate is for these kinds of rough manufacturing jobs? And how do people who do it for many many years cope? Further, it would be interesting to grab a few of these longer-lasting folks and run them through an MRI... to see just what their body has done to cope or how bad it has been damaged. This could be a whole paper for the proper medical researcher...
Posted by joebeone at Marzo 18, 2004 07:42 AM