Sarasota PC Monitor

Ergonomic Tips (05/04)

Here's some essential mice advice:

by John R. Chait D.C., drchait@hotmail.com
Member of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc.
  1. When purchasing your mouse, make sure it fits comfortably in your hand.
  2. Consider a mouse with multiple buttons.
  3. Test different models of mouse, trackball or other input devices. Consider the shape and size of the devices, how comfortably it fits into your hand, ease of operation, and any special features that might make your job easier. {short description of image}
  4. If you surf the web or edit long documents, you may want to try a mouse with a scroll wheel.
  5. If you're experiencing pain or symptoms in your wrist arm or shoulder, using a trackball may help.
  6. Set your mouse for single clicking instead of double clicking. {short description of image}
  7. Use your shoulder muscles to move your mouse instead of your wrist muscles Try to use the mouse with a sweeping movement, instead of a quick, twisting motion..
  8. You'll find it easier and more comfortable to get the control you want if you're not squeezing the mouse or trackball too tightly.
  9. When you use your mouse or trackball, avoid resting your wrists on your desktop.
  10. Make sure your elbow next to your side with your forearm parallel to the floor or slightly bent down. Position your and mouse or trackball so you do not have to reach for it.
  11. Keep your wrist relaxed and straight - don't bend it up, down, or to either side. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Do not hunch or shrug.
  12. Take frequent "stretch breaks" to stretch the wrist muscles at different angles.
  13. Using a mouse demands a certain level of surface stability; if used on a keyboard tray, the tray should not wobble or tip.
  14. Contact a Chiropractor if you experience pain, tenderness, swelling, burning, cramping, stiffness, or numbness in your fingers, hands, wrists, arms, or shoulders. :

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Copyright 2004. This article is from the May 2004 issue of the Sarasota PC Monitor, the official monthly publication of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., P.O. Box 15889, Sarasota, FL 34277-1889. Permission to reprint is granted only to other non-profit computer user groups, provided proper credit is given to the author and our publication. We would appreciate receiving a copy of the publication the reprint appears in, please send to above address, Attn: Editor. For further information about our group, email: admin@spcug.org/ Web: http://www.spcug.org/

The Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc. has 1,100+ members and was established in 1982. We are members of the Assoc. of PC User Groups (APCUG), the Florida Assoc. of PC Users Groups, Inc., and we are members of the America Online Ambassador Program.

See http://www.spcug.org for all reviews from the Sarasota PC Monitor, go to the Newsletter Section.