Ergonomic Mouse or the pointing device is now available in the market in different sizes, shapes, and configurations.

Apart from the conventional Ergonomic Mouse, other pointing devices include touch pads, trackballs, fingertip joysticks, and pucks. While designing a safe workstation, you should give great importance to selection and positioning of Ergonomic Mouse/Pointer.

Do keep in mind the following factors while evaluating your workstation.

• Ergonomic Mouse Placement
• Ergonomic Mouse Size, Shape, and Settings

Ergonomic Mouse Guidelines

• Ensure that the Ergonomic Mouse/Pointer is close to the keyboard (Ergonomic Keyboard).
• Ensure that you use alternate hands while handling the Ergonomic Mouse/Pointer.
• Learn and use the keyboard short cuts to reduce extended use of Ergonomics Mouse.

Ergonomic Mouse Placement:

Probable Risks

If the Ergonomic Mouse/Pointer is not placed near the keyboard, there are chances that your body will be exposed to awkward postures, contact stress, or forceful hand exertions while operating the device. If you continue to work in such postures for long hours, your shoulders and arms will be stressed out. For convenience you might sit with awkward wrist and shoulder postures that might lead to Ergonomic problems in the long run.

Feasible Solutions

• Select a particular position for the Ergonomic Mouse/Pointer so that you can maintain a straight, neutral wrist posture. If required, you may make slight adjustments in your chair, desk, keyboard tray, etc.
• If the keyboard tray/surface that you use does not have enough space for both the keyboard and the mouse, you can try out the following suggestions:

• You can use Ergonomic Mouse platform over the keyboard that helps you to use the Ergonomic Mouse above the 10-key pad.
• You can set up a Mouse Ergonomic tray next to the keyboard tray.
• You can se a keyboard that has a pointing device, such as a touch pad, incorporated into it so that the work gets done even without the help of the Mouse Ergonomics.
• You can try using a keyboard without a ten-key pad, which leaves more room for the Ergonomic Mouse/Pointer.
• You can install keyboard trays that are big enough to accommodate both the keyboard and Ergonomic Mouse.
• You can try a Ergonomic Mouse pad with a wrist/palm rest to promote neutral wrist posture.
• You can substitute keystrokes hence depending less on the mouse, such as Ctrl+S to save, Ctrl+P to print etc.

Ergonomic Mouse: Size, Shape, and Settings

Probable Risks

If the size and shape of the pointers that you choose are unsuitable, it may force you to sit in awkward postures, thereby increasing stress and hence overexertion. Generally, pointing devices that are too big or too small make the fingers to apply more force and bend the wrist to awkward positions.

Also, if you operate a device designed for the right hand with your left hand, it leads to posture disorders that can create contact stress to the soft tissue areas in the palm of the hand. Contact stress leads to irritation and inflammation.