Comments on: Fixing the ‘Internet Elbow’

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:19:09 +0000

My God. I have the exact same problem. I googled it and thats how i found your page. I did it to 2 shirts this week!!!! that makes it at least 6 in the past year!!!

By: Ross Armstrong

Ross Armstrong — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 09:46:17 +0000

Great stuff guys! This phenomenon has been driving me nuts for the last few years. I’ve gone through at least 3 suits and several jumpers, both elbows. If I’m not wearing a jacket/jumper then I tend to role up my shirt sleeves, so haven’t worn any shirt elbows out, but I have had sore elbows on many occasions.

Apparently the chairs in this office cost several hundred pounds each… and their bleedin useless. So over complicated. Let’s see if I can adjust the thing to the suggested configuration… and still be comfortable (I suffer from a stiff back and neck as it is). If I ever manage to get into the right position I’ll report back in a few months to let you know if this has helped!!

By: Darren

Darren — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 07:29:25 +0000

I have noticed this problem too, and I quickly figured out it was due to my elbow continuously rubbing again the desk as I move the mouse around. The problem is that I like to have my keyboard away from the edge of the desk, so I end up having my arms flat on the table.

My solution is to take a bundle of 30 napkins – the kind you get in any coffee store – place them one on top of the other in a stack configuration, and then wrap a loop of sellotape around either end to keep this stack in place. Now, when wearing a long sleeved shirt, I always place this “napkin stack” under my elbow. It stays there and moves across the desk as my elbow moves. So now there is no friction between the desk surface and the shirt cloth at my elbow.

But what do I do with the 4 shirts already with holes in? I’m looking around to see if I can purchase some leather elbow pads, and then I intend to stick one on both elbows.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 31 May 2007 22:00:15 +0000

I live in t-shirt weather so there won’t ever be any elbow holes in my sleaves, but one thing I have noticed is my left elbow is getting bigger. I only just realised a bump, and its from having it always sit on my desk

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:10:14 +0000

Thanks! I too thought I was the only one suffering from this horrible affliction! I have the same desk configuration, and it’s on my left elbow. I’ve gotten to the point where I roll that sleeve up over my elbow, so I don’t lose any more shirts.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Mon, 21 May 2007 03:03:02 +0000

Wow, I thought I was going crazy, I have lost at least 6 shirts to this in the last 6 months! I’m right-handed and mine always wear out on the right side. I think it’s the angle of my arm and the fact that I have a legal pad under my left elbow. Will try moving my mouse and keyboard closer and see if that helps.

By: Paul Gorbould

Paul Gorbould — Mon, 14 May 2007 20:57:08 +0000

Havoc: I admit to some random Googling, to see if the stuff I write gets any juice. But I also have a couple of stats tools built into the blog, and it shows me what search terms people use when they are referred to my blog. This week’s top terms: facebook.ca, download youtube clips, gorbould, myspace.ca, golden state worriers, and sexful. I’ll be writing a blog entry or two about this shortly…

Jesus: I just tried your typing test, and got 68 wpm with no errors. Not bad, I guess. At least it didn’t hurt. You could try asking HR for some sort of compensation – forearm massage, anyone? I asked for a smaller monitor for watching YouTube videos.

Jen: I know a bunch of people who have built makeshift pads for their elbows… there must be a market in this somewhere…

Kevin: Sorry for your loss! I’ve now lost six shirts to “Internet Elbow”… grrr!

By: kevin

kevin — Fri, 11 May 2007 16:24:05 +0000

I lost my favourite jumper to this! Dammit.

By: jen

jen — Wed, 09 May 2007 21:53:07 +0000

i have the exact same desk configuration. i don’t have holes in the elbows in my shirts/sweaters but i do have pain in my elbows due to resting on my left elbow so much. i’m right handed and typically have a stack of papers underneath my right elbow to rest said elbow on. much more cushy than my desk. ya know? glad to see that i’m not the only one out there with the same issue.

By: Jesus

Jesus — Tue, 08 May 2007 12:39:03 +0000

Very informative, and nice to see a company that not only takes an interest in your physical well-being, but has provided a presumably full time position for an ergonomist – I thought that was just a hobby.

Perhaps you could ask said ergonomist a question for me – I’ve had some time to kill at work lately (read: since I started here), so naturally I have resorted to mindless activities to get through the day. My latest is to test my typing speed via http://www.typeonline.co.uk/typingspeed.php
Keeping in mind my job is awarding long term purchasing contracts, not typing, I have managed a fairly respectable 72 wpm without any errors. Downside is I seem to have developed a repetitive stress injury to my right forearm. Can I have the company re-engineer my workspace to accomodate my condition, or am I up a creek since the cause of this condition was clearly not work related (even though I’m happy to say that for a portion of yesterday I was paid approximately $250 to type like the wind)?
How fast can you type?