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Ergonomics Review of the Evoluent Vertical Mouse

Ergonomics Review of the Evoluent Vertical Mouse

Ergonomic Mouse Review

By Janet DeLapp, MS, CDMS, CPDM, CPE and Matt Copeland, BS, CEOE
SolutionsNW.com – Your Ergonomics Experts

Ergonomics Consultants | Solutions Northwest Inc.The average American worker spends 7 hours a day on the computer.” – American Eye-Q 2015

There are many different versions of vertical mice. Over my years doing ergonomics assessments for office workstations, the best vertical mouse, in my professional opinion, is the Evoluent Vertical Mouse. We have not been compensated in any way for writing this review. The opinions expressed are our own.

Top 3 Reasons the Evoluent Vertical Mouse stands our as one of the best Vertical Mouse devices on the market:

  1. At Solutions Northwest Inc., we believe the overall feel of a piece of equipment is very important. The Evoluent has a very natural feel and puts the wrist in a very good neutral position.
  2. This mouse comes in left-handed and right-handed versions. Some products are made to do both but they don’t seem to fit the form of the hand as well as a dedicated left/right product.
  3. This vertical mouse comes in different sizes. Have you ever used something that’s too small or big for you? If you have, then you know how uncomfortable that can be. A mouse which is the wrong size for you can cause unnatural posturing of the hand and wrist which are risk factors. So if you must mouse, an Evoluent Vertical Mouse is an option we recommend.

In conclusion

Remember to always consult with your doctor to rule out any possible underlying cause of pain. And be sure to communicate with your staff, co-workers, or office managers/admins to see if they’d like to try any of these products.

Additionally, be sure to perform an ergonomics assessment to ensure office safety. For more guidance on all work related health and safety issues, visit your ergonomics experts at SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more information.

Subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

Ergonomics Tips: 4 Tips to use Your Mouse in Comfort

Ergonomics Tips: 4 Tips to use Your Mouse in Comfort

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager
Produced by: Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)

Ergonomics Tips: 4 Tips to use Your Mouse in Comfort

Ergonomics Tips: How to use your mouse in comfort
“Evidence suggests that about 3% of women and 2% of men will be diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome during their lifetime…” – The New York Times 

No matter how well a workstation is set up, repetitive work with a mouse may still lead to workplace injury if you do not properly care for your hand.

Whether you work in an office or need to use a mouse for industrial or retail work, you’ve noticed that overusing the mouse doesn’t feel very good. But if your job requires you to use a mouse, then what are your options to avoid pain or workplace injuries such as repetitive stress injury (RSI)?

Be sure you’re placing your hand on the mouse properlyErgonomics Consultants | Solutions Northwest Inc.

Injury can often occur when one doesn’t properly use a work tool. When using the mouse, it is important to keep the wrist and hand in a neutral position. The picture of the hand positioned in good form below reduces your risk of developing a cumulative trauma injury:

Don’t grip the mouse too tight

Improper grip puts you at risk for cumulative trauma injuries. When you are involved in prolonged or repetitive activities at your workstation, keeping the mouse gripped in your hand the whole time contracts the muscles without a break. Be sure to give your grip a break and grip the mouse softly, like it is a raw egg that you don’t want to crack.

Learn some stretches for your mouse hand

Beyond taking breaks every 10 minutes or so, try to break up the repetition with these 3 stretches our ergonomics experts have collected from the CCOHS:

how to grip a mouse ergonomics

1. Fist Stretch

Begin with your open hand (exhibit a) and make a fist with your thumb straight and not tucked under your fingers (exhibit b). Then, (exhibit c) slide your fingertips up the palm of your hand. Move the tips of your fingers to the base of your fingers and you should feel a stretch. Do not force this movement if something is painful.
Fist Stretch - Mouse

2. Prayer Hands

Sitting with your elbows on the desk and palms in prayer position, slowly lower your wrists to the table until you feel a stretch. Keep your palms together throughout the stretch. Hold 5 to 7 seconds, relax, and repeat 3 times.
Prayer Hand Stretch - Mouse

3. Wrist Bend

Grab your hand and hold your fingers, begin to slowly bend your wrist down until you feel the stretch. Hold for 3 to 5 seconds, relax, and repeat 3 times. Next, slowly bend your wrist up until you feel the stretch. Hold for 3 to 5 seconds, relax, and repeat 3 times.
Wrist Bend Stretch - Mouse

Consider a Trackball Mouse

Another option is the ambidextrous trackball mouse. A trackball mouse, unlike a regular mouse, remains stationary and has a ball on its top or side. In addition to the ball, a trackball commonly has one or more buttons that work like mouse buttons. At Solutions Northwest Inc., we recommend trackballs with a ball in the center rather than the side to minimize the risk of thumb tendonitis. Read the guide about trackball mouse options on our blog.

In conclusion

Whatever you do, always remain proactive about your health in the workplace. Hopefully these ergonomics tips can help keep your workplace a safe work place. For more guidance on all work related health and safety issues, visit SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more information.

Be sure to subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Kent, Renton, Arcadia, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

Contact our Experts

Thumb and Wrist Pain – De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

Thumb and Wrist Pain – De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager (Arcata, CA)
Produced by: Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)

De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
De Quervain’s is more common in women than in men, and almost 50% of new mothers experience this condition. It has a tendency to develop during pregnancy, when fluid may be retained. It may also develop during menopause.” WestChester Magazine

Many workers perform repetitive tasks with their hands at work, which may put them at greater risk for thumb and wrist pain. Furthermore, studies have revealed that women may be more susceptible than men to thumb and wrist pain in the workplace, specifically to De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. De Quervain’s is more common in women than in men, and almost 50% of new mothers experience this condition. It has a tendency to develop during pregnancy, when fluid may be retained. It may also develop during menopause,writes WestChesterMagazine.

What is De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?

Tenosynovitis is the inflammation of the fluid-filled sheath which surrounds a tendon and usually leads to joint paint, swelling, or stiffness. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis refers to the condition which affects the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist. According to Mayo Clinic, “it will probably hurt when you turn your wrist, grasp anything or make a fist.”

Causes and symptoms

De Quervain’s may be caused by a variety of work related or personal factors. Common work related factors include repetitive motions with the hands, movement that involves wrist bending, gripping, awkward lifting movement, and twisting. Repetitive tasks at the office, at an assembly line warehouse, or any job that includes twisting screws, using a keyboard or mouse, rapid repetitive hand activities, and even the use of a smart phone may put workers at risk for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis.

Symptoms include pain at the radial side (the thumb side) of the wrist, spasming, tenderness, burning sensation in the hand, swelling, and difficulty gripping. The pain often increases as you move your thumb and wrist.

Why women more than men?

One reason women are affected more often than men by De Quervain’s tenosynovitis may be due to the changes a woman’s body goes through during pregnancy. During pregnancy, women experience fluid retention, which may cause vulnerability to inflammation of the fluid-filled sheath that surrounds the tendon, especially if a repetitive job is involved. Outside of the workplace, new mothers experience wrist and thumb pain from lifting their baby or holding their baby’s head during feeding. Other contributing factors may include hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy and menopause.

What should you do if you have thumb and wrist pain?

Speak with your doctor – Always consult with your doctor when experiencing pain. A doctor can provide an x-ray to rule out any serious injuries, such as a fracture.

Rest Allowing plenty of rest time is the best way to treat thumb joint pain, though work obligations may make this difficult. A thumb splint or brace can assist in helping to rest and ease the workload of the hand.

Reduce inflammation – Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs or creams that can help with recovery time, as well as provide injections as treatment.

Hand therapy – A hand specialist may offer you special massage treatments, such as ultrasound massage. They may also provide stretches and strengthening exercises.

Asses your workstation’s ergonomics – Contact an ergonomics consultant to ensure that your workstation is properly set up. An ergonomics specialist will evaluate your workstation with the objective to prevent injury or prevent further damage, as well as provide recommendations to optimize your workspace.

In Conclusion

As with any pain or work injury you may experience, be sure to consult your doctor to rule out any serious damage. Remember to remain proactive about your health and continue to seek out new ways to improve your health.

As always, be sure to share these tips with your co-workers or employees and for more guidance on all work related health and safety issues, visit SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more detailed information.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

Contact our Experts

Office Workers Have Safety Hazards Too

Office Workers Have Safety Hazards Too

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager, Arcata, CA
Produced by:
Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)
blog_officehazards

Around 3 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers in 2015.” Bureau of Labor Statistics

An office may seem like a super safe and hazard-free work environment, but there are still risks you should be aware of in the office. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that tens of thousands of injuries or work-related health problems occur in the office each year.
Education is a great step toward eliminating office work hazards. Below are some common office safety hazards that you should be aware of.

3 Common Office Safety Hazards:

  1. Fall Injuries. If you think about it, the office has potential for many falls from hazards such as: unattended spills, wet floors, exposed cords, unstable work surfaces, uneven floors, loose rugs, cluttered areas, or areas affected by weather.
    To prevent tripping, be sure not to allow any clutter (like boxes) to enter any walking paths of the office. Stay proactive and clean all spills immediately and post proper hazard signs on wet surfaces that are being cleaned to prevent slips. Also, be sure all tripping hazards like phone or electrical cables are properly installed.
  2. Cumulative Trauma Injuries. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) some common injuries are caused by repetitive movements (including mouse or keyboard use), sitting in awkward or uncomfortable positions, or straining the neck to look at a screen that is too high or too low. OSHA suggests “Adapting tasks, workstations, tools, and equipment to fit the worker to help reduce physical stress on a worker’s body and eliminate many potentially serious, disabling work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).” Be sure your office consults with ergonomics experts to provide a safe work environment and check out our Ergonomics Blog for some quick tips.
  3. Eye Strain. Too much screen time can cause many eye-related symptoms such as discomfort, eyestrain, blurred vision, dry eyes, headache, fatigue, difficulty focusing, and shoulder and neck pain. It is important to properly rest your eyes and take breaks.
    As cell phones become more common in the work place, workers may find themselves looking at small screens throughout the day, try some of our
    tips to protect your eyes when working with a cell phone or consider doing Eye Exercises.

Be sure your HR Department has an Office Safety plan.
Be sure your Human Resources department has developed an Office Safety Plan. OSHA Requires that an office protect workers against known hazards. For example, the following CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) codes apply to a variety of office environments: Housekeeping (29 CFR 1910.22), Exit routes, Emergency Action Plans, and Fire Prevention Plans (29 CFR 1910.33 to 1910.39), Fire Protection (29 CFR Subpart L), Electrical Safety (29 CFR Subpart S), Hazard communication for chemical hazards (29 CFR 1910.1200), Sanitation (29 CFR 1910.141).

Every office safety plan should be reviewed annually and updated whenever changes in procedures or the office environment could create new hazards or affect existing ones.

In conclusion, stay educated.
Being educated in common office safety hazards will help prevent work related injuries. To learn more about work safety issues, visit us at SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more information.

Be sure to subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

Ergonomics Exercises, Video Series: Forearms, Wrists, and Hands.

Ergonomics Exercises, Video Series: Forearms, Wrists, and Hands.

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager, Arcata, CA
Video Instructor: Erica Conner
Produced by: Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)

Watch Solutions Northwest Inc.’s Ergonomics Exercises video series by clicking on the image above or visiting our YouTube channel.

If you are experiencing forearm, wrist, or hand pain at work, this video will provide some exercises that may provide both relief and strength training.

One common source of forearm, wrist, or hand pain in the office is RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury).

RSI refers to pain in the tendons, muscles or nerves brought on by repetitive movement. As described by Medical News Today: “repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression and sustained or awkward positions.” RSI is a type of “Work Related Upper Limb Disorder,” which includes conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and bursitis.

For more guidance on all things Ergonomics, visit SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more information.

Be sure to subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

Contact our Experts

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