Ergonomics

General ergonomics information

In addition to using your dominant hand for many hours at the computer, you use this hand for a multitude of daily tasks, such as writing, opening doors and brushing your teeth. All this adds up. You begin to appreciate just how much you depend on your dominant hand when it becomes painful to use a touch-tone phone or punch your code into the automatic teller machine.

Then there is the design of the mouse, which fits more or less into the hollow of the hand. Many people plant their wrists and forearms on the desk while they position the cursor with waves of the wrist. This action bends the wrist upward and sideways at the same time, placing a tremendous strain on the forearm muscles. Also, instead of allowing you to instinctively use the powerful muscles in your back and shoulder – as typewriters do – the standard pointing device encourages you to rely on the delicate muscles in your fingers and forearms.p>

Finally, mice can be very hard to control. Sometimes the cursor skates off the screen and you have to hold the click button down while you lift and reposition the mouse. When this happens, you tend to grip the mouse, thereby straining the muscles in your arm. You can use good technique to help position the mouse, but you are still faced with the click and drag. A foot pedal can help with the click – but remember to alternate feet when you pedal and pay attention to signs of leg strain.

Are trackballs any safer? The answer is no. A trackball, like a standard pointing device, puts the hand in an awkward position, and requires the use of the dominant hand and thumb. You also tend to flatten, rather than curve, your fingers when using a trackball, and this contraction of the muscles can lead to forearm strain.

As you can see, mice and trackballs should be used very carefully. Here are some pointers:

If you have a choice, use a keyboard. The computer keyboard isn’t perfect, but it is easier to use good technique with a keyboard than a standard pointing device, and it allows you to distribute the work between two hands and ten fingers. Whenever possible, use key commands instead of the mouse. Memorizing common commands is easy if you use them all the time.

If you use the standard pointing device, practice good technique. When you click, drag and circle it over and over again, proper technique, good posture and frequent stretch breaks are critical. Remember:

Keep the it at keyboard level.

Don’t rest your wrist or forearm when you work — move the mouse from the shoulder.

Don’t grip the mouse tightly.

Hold the mouse lightly with all your fingers.

Click gently.

Maintain an ergonomic posture for the whole body.

When controlling the screen pointer using a standard pointing device, RSI and other kinds of pain to the arm, elbow, shoulder or wrist can occur. When working with the screen pointer, maximum comfort is required. If you feel pain from using a mouse, use the keyboard with MouseFIGHTER. You can use the arrow keys, or keys in the middle of the keyboard as you see fit for your needs and comfort preference. Carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) is a very unpleasant condition and must be avoided by relieving strain and repetetive movements (RSI). The pressure should be divided amongst all fingers, and static strain on shoulders and arms should be minimized by keeping hands in one place. This also reduces the static pressure on the shoulders. Numeric keys can be used as well, but it’s intirely up to the user.

Free your mouse and put less strain on your wrists. This software is recommended as a supplement to other pointing devices, when they cause strain or injury. An alternative to the standard pointing device can be a very valuable supplement. Download MouseFIGHTER and see how it is possible to work without using a pointing device at all. MouseFIGHTER let’s you navigate the pointer with the keyboard instead of a mouse, using the ergonomically best placed keys on the keyboard, having your hands centered i front of you. This is the most ergonomic working position for anyone.