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RSI-Shield 4.5

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Chapter 1-5
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1. What is RSI

RSI (repetitive strain injury or injuries) is an umbrella term for conditions affecting the hands, wrists, arms or shoulders that have been caused chiefly by performing repetitive movements. Other factors may include: awkward and/or static posture, overly high workload and/or work speed, infrequent and/or insufficient breaks, stress, lack of control over work planning. The symptoms include chronic pain, stiffness, pins and needles, tingling, numbness, coldness and weakness in the affected part. They may migrate from one part of the body to another and become chronic if corrective action is not taken swiftly.

People working with DSE (display screen equipment - i.e. computers) are particularly at risk, and this is where the focus of the media is nowadays. However, all those whose work involves repetitive motions are at risk including supermarket checkout workers, musicians, butchers, assembly line workers, post sorters, to name but a few.

The static tension of the muscles is thought to be one of the causes in the case of DSE workers; certain muscles remain constantly stressed. It is very important to regularly use different muscles.

Symptoms may be present even when the repetitive motion is no longer being carried out, which can make diagnosis difficult. Many doctors know little about it or simply do not recognize it at all - precisely because of the different symptoms it causes in different parts of the body in different people. The doctor can make a diagnosis in 10 % of cases. He may diagnose, for example:

  • rotator cuff syndrome
  • carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
  • tenosynovitis
  • epicondilytis (tennis elbow/golf arm)
  • tendinitis to the shoulder or elbow
  • thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
  • Quervain's disease
(Source: RSI-Patiëntenvereniging)

2. What is RSI-Shield

RSI-Shield is an advanced anti-RSI software package. It is a user friendly and clearly structured program which prevents or reduces RSI, by using (amongst others) an intelligent pause structure. Furthermore, RSI-Shield uses a special Macro Technology that makes sure you do not have to use the keyboard and mouse as much.

Computer workers risk getting injured by RSI. They have the advantage though, that they work with a computer. By installing RSI-Shield onto your computer, you are letting the computer actively help prevent or even cure RSI.  

RSI-Shield consists of roughly 7 important parts:

The Break system
RSI-Shield knows 3 kinds of breaks. This is more than any other break program. The breaks are offered by an intelligent system. This happens in a way that annoys as little as possible, yet is very effective. RSI-Shield will for instance take into account that you just came back from the toilet and do not need a break right now. During breaks RSI-Shield can protect you against yourself by blocking the keyboard and mouse, making it impossible to use the computer during a break.

The Statistics system
RSI-Shield exactly tracks how many breaks you take, how often you use a particular key, how often you use the mouse and a lot more. You can retrieve all this information. RSI-Shield can show statistical information in the form of numbers, but it can also be presented as graphs. This way you can analyze your working behavior and when necessary adjust this behavior. You do not have to be afraid that others can view this information, because you can secure them with a password. (Statistics can also be exported to a spreadsheet program, like for example Excel.)

The Exercises
It is possible to make RSI-Shield show exercises during a break. Because physical exercises have proven to be very effective against RSI, RSI-Shield shows animated exercises with clear descriptions. These exercises are presented by a computer-generated 3 dimensional person. All exercises within RSI-Shield are based on Cesar- en Mensendieck therapy.

The Counter
RSI-Shield tries, in contrast to other break software, to avoid screen clutter and the usage of annoying flickering screens. To clear the screen, but still give an idea about the moment a break should be held, RSI-Shield uses a small counter. This counter is located near the system clock (usually at the bottom right of the screen); in the taskbar. There it does not bother anyone.

The Settings program
RSI-Shield can be flexibly configured. To adjust the settings, separate software is added. This settings program is completely separated from the rest of RSI-Shield; thus saving processor- and memory usage. The software offers enormous possibilities to configure RSI-Shield just the way you want. Furthermore, all control elements of the software are extensively documented through the use of a dynamic help function, which automatically offers help when the mouse hovers above a control element.

The Macro Technology
RSI-Shield does not fight RSI only in a passive manner by providing breaks, but it also helps in an active manner. By using the Macro technology one can make the computer perform actions (mouse and keyboard), one normally should do themselves. These action can simply be recorded and played back later on. Furthermore, these actions can be played back fastened or repeatedly. Expert users can also create very complex and powerful macros by using the Tronan Macro Editor and the special programming language.

The Auto-mouse-click and 'Keyboard -> Mouse' function
Besides from the Macro Technology (described above), the Auto-mouse-click and the 'Keyboard -> Mouse' function also help fighting RSI actively. When the Auto-mouse-click function is enabled, one does not need to push the mouse buttons anymore. RSI-Shield will push them automatically when the mouse cursor stays in one place for a moment. This function can control the left-, middle-, as well as the right mouse button. On top of that, it can drag something (move with the left mouse button down) without you having to push one mouse button yourself.
Using the 'Keyboard -> Mouse' function, mouse movements as well as the mouse button clicks can be performed by the keyboard.

3. Installation

To be able to use RSI-Shield, you first have to install it on a computer. For that purpose we have created an easy install procedure. The installation-environment can be divided into two categories.

The first one is the normal-enviroment. Which means that RSI-Shield is installed on a computer and it has nothing to do with a network environment. In this environment, all settings are made on the computer itself and not centrally for multiple computers at once.

The second one is the network environment (most businesses will use this one). In this environment it is possible to change the settings of multiple computers at once (centrally). On top of that, it is possible to compare statistics of multiple users, centrally.

Before one begins installing RSI-Shield, one has to decide which environment applies to their situation. Then, one chooses the right section below.

3.1 Normal installation (single-user)
Below, is described how RSI-Shield can be installed on a computer and how an existing installation can be repaired if RSI-Shield does not function properly anymore.

Installing RSI-Shield
To install RSI-Shield you can follow the following steps:

  1. If you want to install RSI-Shield on Windows XP/NT/2000, you must be logged in as an administrator or as a user with administrator level rights (this does not apply to Windows 9x / Millennium)
  2. If you have downloaded RSI-Shield from the Internet, start RSI-Shield.exe
  3. If you have RSI-Shield on CD-ROM, start Setup.exe
  4. The first screen that appears can be used to select the language of the installation. Choose for example: English.
  5. A wizard will appear. Fill in the necessary details and press  Next to go to the next page of the wizard.
  6. On the last page of the wizard, press the Finish button to finalize the RSI-Shield installation and exit the installation procedure. By default RSI-Shield will automatically start after this.

Repairing an existing RSI-Shield installation
If the RSI-Shield installation gets damaged, you can repair the installation by following these steps:

  1. If you want to repair RSI-Shield on Windows XP/NT/2000, you must be logged in as an administrator or as a user with administrator level rights (this does not apply to Windows 9x / Millennium)
  2. If you have downloaded RSI-Shield from the Internet, start RSI-Shield.exe
  3. If you have RSI-Shield on CD-ROM, start Setup.exe
  4. The first screen that appears can be used to select the language of the installation. Choose for example: English.
  5. The following screen appears

Picture 3.1 The installation wizard
  1. The option Repair will be selected automatically . Press the Next button to repair the installation.
  2. After the installation has been repaired, press the Finish button on the last page of the wizard. By default RSI-Shield will automatically start after this.

3.2 Network installation (multi-user)
Below one can find a description of how RSI-Shield can be installed via a network and how an existing installation can be repaired easily. Via network it is possible to install RSI-Shield from a central location. In this case it will not be needed to visit every computer physically. On top of that it can be practically invisible to the users.

To install RSI-Shield you can follow the following steps:

  1. If you want to install RSI-Shield on Windows XP/NT/2000, you must be logged in as an administrator or as a user with administrator level rights (this does not apply to Windows 9x, or Windows Millennium). WATCH OUT: On the moment of installation, it should be possible to run the setup-process with administrator level rights, on each PC.
  2. Make sure every Windows 95 machine has DCOM95, and WinSock2 installed (can be found on the CD, or downloaded from the RSI-Shield site) before the installation. If one uses Internet Explorer 4.x or higher this is not necessary.
  3. If you have downloaded RSI-Shield from the Internet, you should unpack the contents to a folder (on a server). You can use tool like WinZIP to do so (http://www.winzip.com). If you have RSI-Shield on CD-ROM, you should copy its content to a folder (make sure you remove the read-only attributes). After this, you have to share that folder to all users.
  4. One can change a lot of RSI-Shield settings for the users by changing the contents of the 'environment.ini' file. This file is located in the setup folder of RSI-Shield. Modify the 'environment.ini' file to your needs (use notepad). The most important value to set is 'EnvironmentFile'. Enter here the path to a centrally placed 'environment.ini' file (on a server). Don't forget to actually copy the file to the server. Once you have provided this path, you can (at any time) change all settings centrally by changing the centrally placed 'environment.ini' file. The modified file will then automatically be copied to the computers of the users (as soon as RSI-Shield is restarted).
    N.B. RSI-Shield uses the local version of the file (usually C:\Program Files\Tronan\RSI-Shield\environment.ini). Share the folder on the server with the 'environment.ini' file in it, for all users (you probably want to give read-only rights to all users). It is also possible to have a centrally placed 'environment.ini' file for each user separately. In the 'environment.ini' file itself is explained how this works    .
  5. If one wants to be able to compare the statistics of multiple users centrally, it is advised to put al those profiles together. It is possible to specify in the 'environment.ini' file where the profiles can be found (also practical for so called roaming profiles). Create a folder on a server and give everyone read- and write rights to it. After that, change the value behind 'ProfileFolder' in the 'environment.ini' file, to make it point to the folder (you have just created).
  6. Normally a user gets a Wizard when RSI-Shield starts for the first time. This can be disabled. To do so, you have to change the value behind 'NoInitialWizard' (in the 'environment.ini' file) to 1.
  7. Send an email to: and request a username and a password to be able to download TronanServer.(Along with the username and password required to download TronanServer, you will also receive a password needed for the installation of TronanServer.). Download TronanServer from the Internet: http://www.rsishield.com/english/TronanServer/index.php, and install it on the server. After the installation a code will appear. Pass this code on to Tronan (send the code and your invoice id to ), and you will receive the registration data with which you can unlock TronanServer.
  8. Open the 'environment.ini' file, and enter the IP address of the server behind the word 'TRONAN_SERVER_IP'. The RSI-Shield clients will use this IP address later on to connect to TronanServer.
  9. Install RSI-Shield on all client PCs either by running (on each PC separately) 'Setup.exe' (requires user interaction) or 'SilentInstall.exe' (requires no user interaction). During setup, the 'environment.ini' file is copied to each client PC. The 'SilentInstall.exe' file can also be used to install RSI-Shield automatically onto the PC's of certain users, when they log into the domain. To do this, one can use a so called login-script. In the help of Windows NT/2000/XP is described how this works. (MAKE SURE YOU RUN THE INSTALLATION WITH ADMINISTRATIVE RIGHTS). Once RSI-Shield is installed you can run 'SilentRepair.exe' to repair the installation. And 'SilentUninstall.exe' to uninstall RSI-Shield but leaving the profiles and macros unharmed. Or 'SilentRemoveAll.exe' to remove RSI-Shield and all related files.
  10. TIP. As said, one can set a lot of things via the 'environment.ini' file. There is however, a supplemental method with which one can adjust RSI-Shield even more flexible/powerful. For this, one can use so called Tronan macro-scripts. You can read more about this in the help of the with RSI-Shield co-installed programming environment: Tronan Macro Editor. Click on the following link to make that help appear (works only if you have installed RSI-Shield to the default path on this computer): file://C:\Program%20Files\Tronan\RSI-Shield\Help\Tronan%20Macro%20-%20Help.htm Take special notice of the functions GetRSIShieldValue and SetRSIShieldValue. Also take a look at the 'Events' section at the bottom of the 'environment.ini' file. Via those events one can for instance execute homemade macro-scripts on the client PC's, at a certain point of time. This way, one can, as it were, extend RSI-Shield.

4. Starting RSI-Shield for the first time

When you start RSI-Shield, a counter will appear near the system clock (look at picture 4.1). This counter is the 'engine' of RSI-Shield and usually the only visible element of RSI-Shield. When you start RSI-Shield for the first time, you must point out to the software how it should behave when you are working with the computer. That is why the first time the software starts, the settings program will be started automatically (look at picture 4.2). (This behaviour can be disabled by setting 'NoInitialWizard' to 1 in the 'environment.ini' file, before the first run).



Picture 4.1 The RSI-Shield counter


Picture 4.2 The settings program (with the wizard on top)

In picture 4.2 you can see the wizard of RSI-Shield. It enables you to easily make an appropriate profile for yourself. Read every wizard-screen attentively, answer the questions truthfully and press the Next button each time you want to go to the next page of the wizard. On the last screen press the Next button to save your profile.

After this you can close the settings program by pressing Alt+F4 . After the settings program closes, an introduction movie will appear. View this movie attentively. (For your convenience an arrow will indicate where the RSI-Shield counter is located.)

Now, RSI-Shield is ready to be used. Every time you start the computer, RSI-Shield will automatically start with your settings.

In chapter 6 you can find more about the RSI-Shield counter and in chapter 7 the settings program will be explained further.

5. The Breaks

Taking breaks has proven to be very important in preventing or reducing RSI. During intense work with the computer, waste matter builds up in the muscles. To eliminate this waste matter, breaks must be held regularly. It is important to differentiate between types of breaks. It is best to take different types of breaks which differentiate in length and frequency. Most break software know just 1 or 2 types of breaks. The intelligent break system of RSI-Shield knows no less than 3 types of breaks, so the body can recover optimally.

Micro break
The micro break is the break which needs to be held most often. It's a relative short break which must prevent that you work for ten or more minutes on a stretch. This break has to make sure that most of the waste matter is eliminated.

Medium break
The medium break is a break that falls between the micro- and macro breaks. It's meant to let the body recover even further than during a micro break. 

Macro break
The macro break is a break that is held the least, but it is duration is the longest of the three types of breaks. This break provides the opportunity to let the body fully recover. After each macro break the body should be in the same condition as at the beginning of the day (before any work is done). It's recommended to do exercises during this break. By default RSI-Shield will show animated exercises during this break.

The RSI-Shield wizard sets these breaks automatically for you when you have answered all the questions of the wizard. The breaks can be refined though, by using the settings program. In the settings program you can set the length, frequency and the number of breaks to suit your needs. It is recommended not to divert to much from the settings provided by the wizard. In theory it is best to take as many breaks, for as long as possible. In reality a balance between breaks and work must be sought. You should take as many breaks as possible, while preventing getting annoyed or inefficient. In chapter 7 everything concerning how to alter breaks will be explained.

Click for chapter 6