Thread View: sci.med.occupational
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Started by Barbara Zayas
Thu, 07 Jan 1993 20:24
Shoulder problems
Author: Barbara Zayas
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1993 20:24
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1993 20:24
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I've been having a lot (LOT) of problems with my right shoulder. I'm certain that it's attributed to use of the mouse. I have to use the mouse SO often -- an even split a lot of times between it and the keyboard -- that I developed the habit of keeping my right arm extended over the mouse whenever I wasn't typing. The pain is in the back of my shoulder, right above my shoulder blade. If I use the mouse extensively (in an average day I need to use the mouse a lot), the shoulder ache becomes almost unbearable and a resulting headache lasts for hours beyond when I've stopped using the mouse. I've largely corrected this behavior and now tend to pull my hand back into my lap or positioned over the keyboard. In addition, I've tried to eliminate extraneous use of the mouse but I'm afraid that the computing systems that I use demand its use pretty often and interactively (between it and the keyboard). I've probably reduced my mouse use by about 70% but clearly that's not enough. The problem that I'm having is this residual pain. The pain in my right shoulder flairs up with any type of use of the mouse. So, in addition to the things that I've already mentioned, I've switched to using the mouse on the left side. (However, I don't want to simply switch sides, allowing my left side to get damaged as well.) Is there anything else I can do to help my shoulder heal and to prevent this from happening on the opposite side? If anyone has recommendations, please pass them along. Is it likely that this problem can be corrected or might I have damaged something beyond repair? Sorry to have so many questions... Thanks for any help. I'll summarize any responses that I get and post them. Barbara Barbara Zayas Software Engineering Institute bjz@sei.cmu.edu Carnegie Mellon University
Re: Shoulder problems
Author: Deborah Bennett
Date: Sat, 09 Jan 1993 19:36
Date: Sat, 09 Jan 1993 19:36
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bjz@sei.cmu.edu (Barbara Zayas) writes: >I've been having a lot (LOT) of problems with my right >shoulder. I'm certain that it's attributed to use of the >mouse. I have to use the mouse SO often -- an even split a >lot of times between it and the keyboard -- that I developed >the habit of keeping my right arm extended over the mouse >whenever I wasn't typing. (rest of story deleted) One suggestion my Physical Therapist made was to somehow arrange to have your mouse at the same height as your keyboard. Many people who have RSI problems put their keyboard on a tray, but leave the mouse up on the desk. This can cause repetitive strain reaching for the mouse all the time. I fixed this by extending my keyboard tray with a piece of scrap metal which goes under the keyboard, cantilevering the mouse off the end of the keyboard tray. You should be able to reach for the mouse by arcing your hand over from the keyboard, with no additional reach. You could also investigate whether the system you use has some kind of mouseless option for the window-system. Until you get this fixed, you can also help the problem by stretching your shoulder every 30 minutes or so, take frequent breaks, and ice the shoulder every night, whether it hurts or not. Good luck. -- -deborah gronke bennett (WD5HJH) deborah@eng.sun.com device drivers and kernel port engineer Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation
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