Try different positions for your mouse to reduce neck and arm pain?

Published in Mouse, touch pads + input devices on Sunday, 19 April 2009
by Catherine Albert  |   Post RSS

If you think that your mouse might be causing your neck and arm pain than you could be right. Nearly 40% of people think that what they do at work contributes to their pain. It can be a useful exercise to look at whether you have your mouse in the best position for the work you do.

This might appear an odd question and while most people are right handed and put their mouse on the right hand side of the keyboard it doesn’t mean that’s the only position or indeed the best position in which to use it.

1. Using a mouse on the right hand side

Make sure you use the mouse so its close to the keyboard and you don’t let it drift out to the side or infront of you. This is a common cause of shoulder and neck pain when using a mouse.

To help you keep your mouse close to the middle you can try some alternative arrangements.

A Use a mini keyboard (if you don't need a number pad) so that your right hand is even nearer the centre of the keyboard.

B Use a left handed keyboard so the number pad is on the left hand side. You can use the number pad with the left hand and the mouse with the right hand. This will help to take some of the load off your right hand and arm. The right hand will sit closer to the middle as with the mini keyboard but it may take a week or two to get used to using the number pad with your left hand.

2. Using the mouse on the left hand side of your keyboard

Find out more about setting up the mouse for left handed use before trying it in your left hand. This can be useful even for right handed people who want to reduce the load on their right hand. Don’t forget to allow a couple of weeks to get up to speed with the left hand.

3. Position the mouse in front of the keyboard.

Move the keyboard closer to the screen to leave you space infront or your to put the mouse. This is an important alternative position but its really only useful if you are using the mouse most of the time and don't need the keyboard 

Its not a suitable position if you need to use the text or number pad as you will be reaching across the desk. If however, you are doing constant mouse work than it can be more comfortable for your neck and shoulder to have your hand closer to your middle than to the side

4. Mixing it up

Sometimes you need to use your mouse at the side of the keyboard, sometimes in your right hand, sometime in your left and at other times it may be sensible to push your keyboard forward out of the way and bring your mouse into the centre of your desk. Play around and see what works for you.

TIP: Remember the Three Ps of using a mouse

Position – are you sitting at the right height, is your keyboard in the right position

Placement – change your mouse placement according to the type of work you are doing

Performance – check you are not using mouse techniques that contribute to arm and neck pain –

• hovering,

• lifting your fingers up,

• gripping tightly,

• flicking etc

And don’t forget to try using shortcut keys so you are using your mouse less.

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