I heard an interesting statistic on the radio the other day. It seems that within a few years, 47% of the jobs in this country will involve the use of a computer on some level. From the perspective of the office, I’ve noted a gradual shift in the percentages of patients who suffer from lower back pain (LBP) and those who suffer neck and arm pain (NAP). A slow but steady decline in the number of LBP complaints has been accompanied by a similar increase in the number of NAP patients.
During the history or initial discussion of a NAP problem, the subject of computer use typically comes up. I don’t have an exact number, but the
percentage of people with a NAP condition who list computer use as an irritant to their pain is very, very high.
While computer use itself may not be as strenuous as doing construction, it does lend itself to chronic static strain and repetitive use disorders, such as neck pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, respectively. Both of these can be alleviated, or even eliminated, with proper workstation setup.
This diagram is a good general setup for your workstation. We have copies at the office, if you would like one. Now, back to the mouse…
Moving the mouse around typically involves using your dominant hand and arm to get the cursor to the spot you would like it to be. Why this needs to involve your entire arm, shoulder, and neck is beyond me. Especially when this particular movement seems to be the source of a lot of NAP issues. The mouse pictured is a far better choice because you only have to move your index and middle fingers a small amount to move the cursor instead of your entire arm. No more reaching, no more “wax on/wax off” to get the cursor to where you need it. These are available through any office supply store or online for around $30. If you use a computer for any significant part of your day, it’s worth every penny to minimize strain and repetitive use injury.
NAP problems usually resolve quite quickly if the source of pain is correctly identified and the right treatment is applied.
Call us today to see if we can help you start feeling better now!
