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Look for these small critters hiding out near your mouse. Just start using your mouse and watch them come out of the woodwork, threatening your mouse and your hand’s health. We’ll give you tips on how to eradicate these pests.

1.Handus Hoveramus

Known for having fingers suspended over the buttons only pouncing to click and creating static tension in the hand and forearm muscles. Can also infect keyboards.

Eradication Tips:

Rest your fingers on the buttons (if you rest them lightly the buttons shouldn’t click)
Slide your hand forward on the mouse slightly – it doesn’t have to be your fingertip on the button
Consider a different type of input device e.g. trackballs which give your fingers a place to rest without clicking

2.Mouse Stranglers and Mousus Liftalot

These predators also lead to significant tension in the hand and particularly the thumb. Often associated with intense work styles and / or a feeling of “running out of mouse space”.

Eradication Tips:

Adjust your mouse speed settings – a more sensitive mouse needs less space.

The content of this article was written by ErgoRisk and has been republished in an online format at OnTask Rehab: your source for ergonomic and rehab articles and services.

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The golden rule of office ergonomics is straightforward: Put your body into ‘neutral posture’ and then find ways to make your computer fit you.

The early designers were right, separating the keyboard and screen is the most important step.

For the frugal, an external keyboard, mouse and a stack of paper to lift your laptop screen help you get 90% of the way there.

For the technologically inclined, newer tools like wireless keyboards and mice, USB hubs, laptop holders, larger LCD screens and docking stations will help make your laptop easily adapt and contort to you.

If you find yourself somewhere and you don’t have all of the tools, remember that you still control your work habits. Taking frequent short breaks, changing working positions, using keyboard shortcuts, and managing your day will help you keep discomfort away.

The content of this article was written by ErgoRisk and has been republished in an online format at OnTask Rehab: your source for ergonomic and rehab articles and services.

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Isn’t technology awesome! With wireless networks, longer lasting laptop batteries, Google, 24/7 shopping, online chatting and role playing games, we can spend more and more time on our computers…Yahoo!!!!
Or maybe that should be Yeouch.com?

Do you ever get ‘in’ to something online at home and then all of a sudden you look up and it’s a couple of hours later?

Whether it’s melting into the couch, stretching out on the floor or using your laptop at the kitchen table, the equation is simple:

Lots of time + awkward postures = discomfort (or worse).

The most important things to remember when you are working at home are to try and keep your back supported in good posture and to avoid staying in one position for long periods of time.

Another easy fix is adding an external keyboard and mouse allows you to raise your laptop so the top of your screen is closer to eye level and to bring your input devices as close to elbow height as possible.

The content of this article was written by ErgoRisk and has been republished in an online format at OnTask Rehab: your source for ergonomic and rehab articles and services.

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If you look at anyone in your office at a laptop workstation, which of the following should you see?

• Hips positioned comfortably to the back of the chair
• Low, middle and upper back supported by the chair back
• When looking at their back, an imaginary line from their ear to their hips should be angled approximately 45 degrees
• Upper arms hanging vertically, with elbows relaxed comfortably at the side of the body
• Head positioned directly over the keyboard so that he/she can see the three point font spreadsheet on their 15” screen

The moral of the story is that while laptops are fantastic productivity enhancers, this benefit sometimes comes at the expense of worker comfort.

The good news is that some simple, inexpensive changes can enhance both comfort and productivity. The number one thing to do is to find a way to allow you to use a keyboard separate from your screen. Docking stations or external keyboard and mice will help you to minimize the impact of using a laptop in the office.

The content of this article was written by ErgoRisk and has been republished in an online format at OnTask Rehab: your source for ergonomic and rehab articles and services.

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In the late 1970’s when laptops were being designed and becoming popular, design guidelines called on designers to separate the screen and the keyboard.

So…it’s now 25 years later and obviously that didn’t happen!

While laptops have changed where, when, and how we work as individuals and teams, they still contradict the golden rule of ergonomic design – “fit the work to the user”.

A lack of built-in adjustability means the user must adapt and contort.

I know we’re supposed to be flexible at work but really, sometimes doesn’t it just make you want to scream?

The content of this article was written by ErgoRisk and has been republished in an online format at OnTask Rehab: your source for ergonomic and rehab articles and services.