Using the mouse

As we all know, the mouse is a necessary accessory in order to use a computer. Using a mouse for many hours a week can cause injury to the muscles and skeleton of your upper limbs. Mouse use puts considerable demand on your hand and wrist.

There are ways to minimize the risks related to constant mouse use. Above all, you must ensure that you have a model that suits your hand and that you place the mouse properly in your work area.

Mouse placement

The mouse should be placed next to the keyboard on the left or right side. It should be positioned to maintain a straight extension of your arm, i.e., in line with your shoulder. Ideally, it should be placed slightly towards the centre of your body, but this is not always possible because of the keyboard position. The mouse should be at the same height as your elbow.

Mouse use

How to hold the mouse properly You should not hold the mouse tightly. Rather, you should relax your hand and hold the mouse gently. Move the mouse using your entire arm and not just your wrist. It is important to keep your wrist in a neutral position and in a straight line with your forearm.

You should also avoid resting your hand on the mouse when you are not using it. Instead, rest your forearm on the arm rest or rest your palm on the palm rest.

Mouse choice

A mouse should fit the shape of your hand and not cause you any discomfort. It should not be too big or too small. The sensitivity of the buttons should be adequate: buttons that are difficult to press require more effort and could cause muscle fatigue if you use the mouse a lot. However, buttons that are too sensitive can be activated by accident.

Recommendations

You should take regular breaks to stretch the muscles in your forearm. You should vary your tasks during the day whenever possible.

You can also adjust the mouse pointer and double-click speeds. A medium speed is recommended, because a pointer that moves too fast hinders its accuracy. Inversely, a slow speed requires greater movement of the mouse. To modify the pointer speed, click:

  • Start
  • Control Panel
  • Mouse
  • Select Pointer Options and adjust the pointer speed.
  • You can also slow the double-click speed on the Buttons tab in the Mouse Properties window.

To reduce muscle fatigue, you can alternate the mouse position (to the left or right of the keyboard). On the left side, the mouse is more likely to be closer to the centre line of your body. When you choose this option, you can change the button configuration in the Mouse Properties window. You can also switch the buttons to reduce excessive use of your index finger (which presses the main button). It goes without saying that these variations will require an adjustment period.