Desk Doctor 1.1.9 – Desktop Computing Exercise program that reduce RSI
Reviewed by Robert Pritchett
Developer: Dr. Russ Hornstein Einspine Ltd. PO Box 106 Sliema SLM 01 Malta (Europe) 365-2122-6733 Released: December 13, 2006. Updated February 5, 2007. $129 USD download, $139 USD CD, 30-day money back guarantee. 14-day trail - |
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http://www.einspine.com/support/download_index.html Low-Res - either 29 MB (Mac) or 23 MB (PC) or High-Res – 298 MB (Mac) or 180MB (PC). Requirements: Mac OS X 10.2.7 or later; QuickTime 7 (Mac) or Windows Media Player (PC) 256 MB RAM, 500 MB Disk Space. Strengths: Cross-platform. Provides a process to practice healthier computing. Weaknesses: Audio feed apparently does not work as advertised? Sucks up considerable computing resources. Other Reviews: http://www.einspine.com/company/press_clippings.html |
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Introduction
“Desk Doctor is new software that identifies Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and targets it accurately with a personal treatment plan. First the program guides you through on-screen medical tests. Then Desk Doctor uses its built-in reasoning to compile the optimum video-guided exercise program to reverse problems and keep you healthy.
It is important to set up your work area so that it supports a balanced posture. This is a passive measure. Breaking up periods of work with regular exercises is an active measure. Such active measures do more than just reduce RSI risk, they promote greater strength and resilience to stress and injury.
Passive measures
Passive measures include changes to the environment that support a balanced body posture, neutral positioning of keyboard, mouse and monitor and as well as glare free lighting, fresh air, etc. Well implemented passive measures reduce stress and strain on the body and thus limit the risk of injury.
Active measures
Active measures produce physical changes in the body through physical activity - typically exercises. These make the body stronger and more capable of withstanding the stress and strain of using a computer. A good exercise program, such as those provided by the Desk Doctor program, comprise 'specific' exercises. These are specific in two ways. Firstly, they are designed to counteract a specific problem in a joint, muscle, nerve or tendon, in the most effective way. Secondly, the program is constructed especially for a specific person. Necessarily based on the results of medical tests, a specific exercise program is carefully tailored to a person's own particular condition and needs.
Active measures
rehabilitate problems
Active measures not only prevent musculoskeletal problems from arising but also rehabilitate problems that already exist. This is something that passive measures alone cannot do. The Assessment module of Desk Doctor detects existing problems and includes rehabilitation exercises in the resulting Personal Exercise Plan.
Recommendation
The most complete and effective approach for computer use health is to invest in both a good ergonomic workplace setup and a system that provides a specific exercise plan.”
Getting Started
There are two versions of this software. One is a low-res and the other is high-res. The High-res download is 298MB for the Mac and 180 MB for the Windows environment. For the Mac, a folder is created that goes into the Applications folder. When I upgraded from the Low-res to the high-res I had to re-register, but the app remembered my assessment info from the low-res version.
There are 5 parts to this program –
- Assessment with orthopedic tests (upper-body health to detect RSI conditions - http://www.einspine.com/deskdoctor/features_rsis.html),
- Personal Plan (prevention and rehab with 100 exercises - http://www.einspine.com/deskdoctor/3_personal_plan.html),
- Health Score (health risk monitor - http://www.einspine.com/deskdoctor/4_health_score.html),
- Exercises (workstation breaks - http://www.einspine.com/deskdoctor/5_exercises.html) and
- Monitoring “hover” (mouse gripping without moving alert - http://www.einspine.com/deskdoctor/6_hover.html).
There is a Tutorial for Part 1 of 2 parts of the Assessment.
Using the Software
There are 15 tests in the Assessment process. I think the instructress must be double-jointed, because I sure can’t bend my body parts like she does!
The evaluation runs from no pain, slight pulling sensation without pain, moderate puling sensation and/or discomfort, sharp pain and numbness and/or pins and needles sensation.
When I tried to get the “Speak text when video plays” to run, the resources used went way up and I heard no sound, so turned it off because it really affected the video presentation.
Next after going through the 15 tests, the results appeared and a Create Exercise Profile button appeared. There is an option to redo any of the tests.
Now the fun begins –
Indeed, there are a number of exercises and the instructress shows how for the time allotted for the exercises.
The Desk Doctor will pop up on the screen while the computer is on and show exercises that can improve my physical stress situation.
Here is a snapshot of my Activity Summary. It looks like I have a ways to go to improve my Physical Fitness regimen on my Mac.
As you can see, the on-screen DeskDoctor window changes interactively as the day progresses. I am obviously not very healthy with my computer practices. The background of the Desktop window changes color as well. Red is in the danger zone. ;^)
And as long as Desk Doctor is on, it will keep monitoring my health as I work on my computer.
Preferences can be changed so that alerts can come on every 10 points of the Health Score goes up or down.
The program does tend to be a resource hog and sucks up a lot of CPU time and interferes with response from other memory-intensive programs. Be aware that this app does take considerable CPU resources to run over time and may interfere (it does on my machine anyway) with other apps that are also CPU-intensive. But then again, the video exercises are excellent.
Conclusion
If you want to still do computing and get yourself rehabilitated without having to go to a physical therapist, this program may fit the bill. What does it cost to go in for surgery for Carpal Tunnel or Repetitive Stress Injuries? This app is cheap insurance.
Recommendation
When you have your health, you have everything. When you don’t, you cannot get work done and life can just be a pain. By using this app either on a Mac or other computers, the practice of preventive medicine can go a long way in improving your computing quality of life.
This app is more than just a stretch of your imagination. Desk Doctor helps with upper body muscle and skeletal relief from stress and strain caused by sitting at a computer all day and/or night.
