If The Mouse Fits:
Ergonomic Tips for Healthy Computer Mousing

Most new computers come with a standard keyboard and mouse. For many people, these may work fine for a while. But remember - the selection of a good ergonomic mouse can make a significant difference in mousing comfort during everyday computing.

Many ergonomic triggers leading to musculoskeletal disorders are present while mousing: excessive force from hitting the mouse buttons, repetition with long hours of usage and awkward and sustained postures from improper mouse positioning. Combined with the proliferation of mouse-intensive software applications complaints of mouse finger injuries or “mouse-itis” are increasing. Mouse what? You may have experienced it… that pain in the forearm or wrist that gets worse the more you work. Repetitive stress injuries from mousing can affect the neck, shoulders, elbows and wrists in addition to the fingers and hands.

When mousing, basic ergonomic positioning guidelines of maintaining a straight, in-line wrist position apply. The mouse should be at the same level as your keyboard. Your keyboard and mouse should be at elbow height with your elbows comfortably at your side. So what should you do once you’ve evaluated your workstation raised/lowered your keyboard, mouse and chair to achieve a neutral wrist posture and eliminate any contact stress points and are still experiencing discomfort? Let’s talk about mouse matters! Here, one size doesn’t always fit all! The standard mouse that comes with most computers may be too small for many people and result in the user tightly clutching the mouse or scrunching the fingers in order to use it. It may also result in resting your wrist as you pivot your hand back and forth to move your mouse.

So, choose a design that best matches your needs and fits your hand. Your entire hand should be supported, with fingers relaxed over the mouse. A contoured design will allow easy gripping without excessive force. If you have extra large hands or petite hands look for a mouse that comes in sizes and measure your hand to find one that fits. You may have to “try on” several mice to get the right fit and feel. If you’re experiencing wrist discomfort choose a mouse that encourages arm movement rather than wrists pivoting. Stay away from trackballs which require pivoting of the wrist. Avoid mice that require a tight grip. The Contour Perfit Mouse comes in sizes ranging from x-small to x-large and is also available in left-handed versions. Avoid mice that are flat causing the forearm to twist by finding a design that is slightly angled or vertical design mouse that promotes neutral wrist and forearm posture.