typing (you know that typing is a vital requirement is the job market) posture, ergonomics, prevention, treatment The most important element of both prevention and recovery is to reduce tension in the muscles and tendons. This requires learning how to relax. If you're under a load of stress, this is doubly important. Tune out the world and breath deep and regular. Relaxing should become a guiding principle in your work: every three minutes take a three second break.

• Let your shoulders relax.
• Let your elbows swing free.
• Keep your wrists straight.
• Pull your chin in to look down - don't flop your head forward.
• Keep the hollow in the base of your spine.
• Try leaning back in the chair.
• Don't slouch or slump forward.
• Alter your posture from time to time.
• Every 20 minutes, get up and bend your spine backward.

For some people, wrist supports seem to work wonders. If you drop your arms at your side and then lift your hands up at the elbow, you want your keyboard under your hands when your elbows are at about 90 degrees.

First, and foremost of importance: if you experience pain at all, then you absolutely need to go see a doctor. As soon as you possibly can. The difference of a day or two can mean the difference between a short recovery and a long, drawn-out ordeal. GO SEE A DOCTOR. Now, your garden-variety doctor may not necessarily be familiar with this sort of injury. Generally, any hospital with an occupational therapy clinic will offer specialists in these kinds of problems.

Expect the holidays to be a weighty challenge. The holidays are filled with opportunities to gorge and gain weight. Often this will create tremendous pressure on you, if you prepare for it, you will win the battle against the bulge.

Get support for eating properly. Find a support partner and speak with them daily. Weight loss is best done with the help of a support system, particularly during a stressful time. If you attempt to go it alone, you may not succeed.

Almost all overeating is related to intense emotions. This is particularly true about holiday eating. Holidays bring up feelings of loneliness, family conflict, past hurts and resentments, anger and many other painful emotions. If we combine these stressors with an abundance of comfort food, then we have the perfect weight gaining situation.

If you identify these stressors, you can make productive decisions about how to manage them. If you simply walk into family gatherings unaware of the emotional pitfalls, you can count on having your diet fall apart.

Let family members know that you are working hard to lose weight and that you want their support. Ask them to resist the urge to tempt you to eat food that will throw you off and to provide alternative foods for you. Offer to help the host cook - this will give you the opportunity to introduce your own low-bulge food into the event menu.