tedster - 7:25 pm on Oct 26, 2003 (gmt 0)

Musicians definitely suffer from RSI - as a Google search will demonstrate. But they certainly don't have as much of an issue as typists and information workers.

I think the main reason is that musicians have teachers who teach proper technique. Still those techniques are only partially about protecting the body health - they are mostly about how to have optimal control over musical expression.

As both a musician and an information worker, I've wrestled with RSI a good bit and the physical suggestions here make sense - in a sense, this is the parallel to haveing a music teacher.

However, in the last few years I've made some dietary changes that have helped me at least as much as all the posture information -- and probably more. Jane_Doe's observation about magnesium rich foods is on target, and there's even more.

I've found that having all the principle and trace minerals, and having them in proper balance, is a very important factor for reducing RSI. That includes have all the support elements in my digestive system that help the body to utilize the nutrients.

Think of the attention that athletes put on nutrition that supports their body's function. We're in a parallel situation, and fixing our posture is only part of what we need to help our bodies perform well.