Yet another data point. I coded full time at work for 14 years without having any problems at all (an therefore not paying any attention to ergonomics either).
Then in 2005 I started having problems with my arms. It got so bad I thought I had to quit programming all together, but I managed to sort it out, and today I can work without problems.
The most important part of the solution for my was to start using a break program to force me to take regular breaks (preventing the problem in the first place instead of treating the symptoms). I also started to use a split keyboard without a numerical pad, and using a penclic pen-mouse.
Then in 2005 I started having problems with my arms. It got so bad I thought I had to quit programming all together, but I managed to sort it out, and today I can work without problems.
The most important part of the solution for my was to start using a break program to force me to take regular breaks (preventing the problem in the first place instead of treating the symptoms). I also started to use a split keyboard without a numerical pad, and using a penclic pen-mouse.
I wrote about it at http://henrikwarne.com/2012/02/18/how-i-beat-rsi/ and it was dicussed here at HN here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3635692