Can a More Neutral Position of the Forearm When Operating a Computer Mouse Reduce the Pain Level for Visual Display Unit Operators? A Prospective Epidemiological Intervention Study

Abstract

In a field study, a newly developed mouse that gives the operator a more neutral forearm position was compared with a traditional mouse using a more pronated forearm. After using the new mouse for 6 months, a significant reduction was reported regarding pain intensity and frequency for wrist/hand, forearm, shoulder, and neck (p £ .009). The control group using the traditional mouse reported only small changes in the pain level (p ³ .24). Total duration of pain the last 6 months was also significantly improved for the shoulder and forearm in the intervention group, whereas no such changes were observed in the control group. These results clearly indicate the importance of using a computer mouse with a more neutral position of the forearm.