Mouses
Mouses
Mouses
You can easily create the ideal workspace with just a few adjustments. The mouse remains the most-used accessory when working on a computer or laptop. Mice are used a lot, especially in work settings, and even tend to be a standard part of a computer workspace. This is confirmed by various studies. A 2014 survey by The Atlantic among nearly 300 persons showed that about three-fourths of them used an external mouse in the past week.
Because it is so ubiquitous, a good mouse is essential for working comfortably and staying healthy when using a computer or laptop. There are many different mice on the market these days, and most non-standard mice are also ergonomic: from vertical, precision and central mice to pen tablets. So how do you choose the right mouse from all these types?
There are different ergonomic mice that increase the comfort of mouse use. All these models also reduce pronation, wrist extension and ulnar deviation to some degree. We will describe three types.
Central mice
Centrally positioned mice, such as the Mousetrapper. The advantage of a centrally positioned mice is that it is placed right in front of the user, between the user and the keyboard. This relieves muscle tension in the shoulder compared to a standard mouse, which is placed next to the keyboard. Because of the central position used with a central mouse, the shoulder does not need to be turned outwards (Lin et al. 2014).
Precision mice
Then you have pen mice. These mice can be grabbed with your fingertips. When using these mice the fingers have to bend more and the wrist is less bent backwards, as seen in the picture below. Use of the precision mouse can also cause less muscle strain in the forearms because there is less wrist extension (Kotani & Horii, 2003; Ulmann et al., 2003).
Vertical mice
In the last group are the vertical models, like the Evoluent mice. A vertical mouse is held in a handshake position. In this position the wrist bends less sideways and the forearm has to turn less inwards.
Long-term use of the mouse can lead to pain and discomfort in the shoulders, forearms and hands (Chang et al., 2007; Andersen et al., 2008). An ergonomic mouse can partially counteract these effects and makes things more comfortable.
Hand, wrist and forearm strain
The hand, wrist and forearm are positioned poorly with a ‘normal’ or standard mouse. Use of a standard mouse taxes the body in three ways: pronation, wrist extension, and ulnar and radial deviation.
One speaks of pronation in the forearm when the palm of the hand is turned inwards from a neutral initial posture. During this motion the bones and attached muscles cross each other in the forearm. Because of the normal height of the mouse the wrist is bent backwards, which is known as wrist extension.
The user also has to lift a finger to click, which further intensifies strain in the entire wrist area. The most common posture when using a standard mouse is known as ulnar deviation. This means that the hand is bent towards the side of the pinkie, as the picture below illustrates. People have limited flexibility when laterally bending towards the thumb side, in radial deviation.
This is why the hand is mostly bent to the right, in other words in ulnar deviation. Because of this posture the wrist does not assume a neutral position very often during use of a normal mouse, and in the long term this causes overload.
ISO standard
The European guideline, or ISO standard, recommends a neutral body posture when using a keyboard and mouse. That is not achievable with a regular keyboard, according to the ISO organisation.
Do you want to know more about the different types of mice and their pros and cons? Do you want to buy an ergonomic mouse? Contact us and we’ll be happy to help you.
So many types of ergonomic mice. Which one fits me better?
Because it is so ubiquitous, a good mouse is essential for working comfortably and staying healthy when using a computer or laptop. There are many different mice on the market these days, and most non-standard mice are also ergonomic: from vertical, precision and central mice to pen tablets. So how do you choose the right mouse from all these types?
So many types of ergonomic mice
There are different ergonomic mice that increase the comfort of mouse use. All these models also reduce pronation, wrist extension and ulnar deviation to some degree. We will describe three types.
Central mice
Centrally positioned mice, such as the Mousetrapper. The advantage of a centrally positioned mice is that it is placed right in front of the user, between the user and the keyboard. This relieves muscle tension in the shoulder compared to a standard mouse, which is placed next to the keyboard. Because of the central position used with a central mouse, the shoulder does not need to be turned outwards (Lin et al. 2014).
Precision mice
Then you have pen mice. These mice can be grabbed with your fingertips. When using these mice the fingers have to bend more and the wrist is less bent backwards, as seen in the picture below. Use of the precision mouse can also cause less muscle strain in the forearms because there is less wrist extension (Kotani & Horii, 2003; Ulmann et al., 2003).
Vertical mice
In the last group are the vertical models, like the Evoluent mice. A vertical mouse is held in a handshake position. In this position the wrist bends less sideways and the forearm has to turn less inwards.
What can happen if one uses the ‘wrong’ mouse?
Long-term use of the mouse can lead to pain and discomfort in the shoulders, forearms and hands (Chang et al., 2007; Andersen et al., 2008). An ergonomic mouse can partially counteract these effects and makes things more comfortable.
Hand, wrist and forearm strain
The hand, wrist and forearm are positioned poorly with a ‘normal’ or standard mouse. Use of a standard mouse taxes the body in three ways: pronation, wrist extension, and ulnar and radial deviation.
One speaks of pronation in the forearm when the palm of the hand is turned inwards from a neutral initial posture. During this motion the bones and attached muscles cross each other in the forearm. Because of the normal height of the mouse the wrist is bent backwards, which is known as wrist extension.
The user also has to lift a finger to click, which further intensifies strain in the entire wrist area. The most common posture when using a standard mouse is known as ulnar deviation. This means that the hand is bent towards the side of the pinkie, as the picture below illustrates. People have limited flexibility when laterally bending towards the thumb side, in radial deviation.
This is why the hand is mostly bent to the right, in other words in ulnar deviation. Because of this posture the wrist does not assume a neutral position very often during use of a normal mouse, and in the long term this causes overload.
ISO standard
The European guideline, or ISO standard, recommends a neutral body posture when using a keyboard and mouse. That is not achievable with a regular keyboard, according to the ISO organisation.
Want to buy an ergonomic mouse?
Do you want to know more about the different types of mice and their pros and cons? Do you want to buy an ergonomic mouse? Contact us and we’ll be happy to help you.
