Mouse arm and repetitive strain injuries
What are mouse arm and repetitive strain injuries?
The concepts mouse arm and repetitive strain injuries cover any condition that can develop in connection with repeated movements, over-stretching, vibration, applied pressure, sedentary work or awkward working positions. Repeatedly straining the muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves is the cause of many different conditions that affect the shoulders, arms, wrists and hands. When you work with a traditional computer mouse, you hold the forearm and wrist in a position that deviates from the norm. Adjusting your work posture as well as varying the type of mouse can minimise the discomfort in the mouse-using arm to some degree.
The most common conditions
On this page, you can find out a little more about the most common conditions connected with mouse arm and repetitive strain injuries.
You can find more information on these conditions at Health & Safety Executive.
Note: If you develop symptoms of mouse arm that might be related to your job, you should speak to your employer or health and safety representative (HSR). If you work a lot with a computer, you can investigate the possibility of changing your work assignments or swapping your traditional computer mouse for an ergonomic mouse, as this may contribute to relieving your pain. If your symptoms persist, we advise you to contact your doctor.
