Does your elbow always feel sore after a long day at the office? A workplace ergonomic assessment could find that your computer desk setup makes you prone to lateral epicondylitis, also known as mouse elbow. Is mouse elbow a workplace injury that you can easily prevent and treat?
Find out ways that you can avoid this repetitive strain injury and maintain proper workplace ergonomics. Follow the tips in this guide to understand and prevent computer-related elbow pain.
What Is Mouse Elbow?
Imagine you go to your doctor complaining of elbow pain. They ask about your lifestyle and examine your joints to reveal more about your injury. Their formal diagnosis is lateral epicondylitis, otherwise known as mouse elbow.
This injury refers to inflamed tendons around the tip of the elbow. Experts find that the inflammation often occurs due to the repetitive strain of sitting at a computer and using a mouse. The repetitive motion of bending your elbow to grip a computer mouse and typing on a keyboard can gradually affect the muscles in these joints.
So, is mouse elbow a workplace injury? It certainly can be for those who spend most of their days using a computer. However, students and physical laborers can also suffer from mouse elbow if they spend much of their free time on a computer.
Why Prompt Treatment Matters
Say you’re two months into a new office job when you start experiencing elbow pain every day. The pain is likely due to the repetitive motions of moving the computer mouse and typing on your keyboard, which are key functions of your day-to-day work. You have no intentions of quitting your job, but how can you manage the pain?
Treating mouse elbow and similar injuries right away is crucial. Ignoring the injury and continuing with your normal routine can exacerbate the pain and potentially lead to chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Consult an occupational health and office ergonomics specialist for treatment plans and tips for continuing your work without the risk of injury.
Experts often recommend resting the muscles as much as possible and massaging trigger points around the elbow for pain relief.
How To Prevent Elbow Pain in the Workplace
Is mouse elbow a workplace injury that you can easily prevent? It sure is, as long as you know the basics of good workplace ergonomics. Check out some proven ways to reduce the risk of mouse elbow and similar repetitive strain injuries.
Keep Your Computer Mouse Nearby
Your first priority should be positioning the computer mouse correctly. Keep it close to your body so your forearm and elbow don’t have to extend very far.
Does the mouse feel too big or too small for your hand? Consider switching to a more appropriately sized mouse. This helps avoid unnecessary tension in your wrist and fingers.
Use a Wrist Pad
Don’t let a computer wrist pad be just a decorative item on your desk. Use it while typing to help keep your wrists and fingers level with the keyboard. If you have to flex your wrists upward to reach the keys, it will cause additional strain on critical muscles and tendons.
Maintain Good Posture
It’s not just your arms and elbows that you should focus on. Many repetitive strain injuries in the workplace stem from poor posture. While you’re sitting at the computer, relax your shoulders and keep your spine straight instead of slouched over.
Along with “Is mouse elbow a workplace injury?” one of the most common questions occupational therapists hear is, “How can I improve the ergonomics at my job?” Consider investing in an ergonomic desk chair to improve your posture and comfort.
Don’t Forget To Stretch Throughout the Day
When it comes to overuse injury prevention, periodic stretching is key. Uncurl your fingers after several minutes of typing and stretch your arms to improve blood flow. Even just a few moments of stretching can have a noticeable impact on your musculoskeletal health.
Enhance Your Occupational Health With WorkSafe
Not only is mouse elbow a workplace injury that causes joint pain and discomfort, but it’s an injury that workers can prevent with the right ergonomics. At WorkSafe, we help laborers across all industries prevent and recover from overuse and overextension injuries. Our occupational health services include physical therapy, work conditioning, ergonomic assessments, and more.
Don’t let mouse elbow impact your employees’ health and ability to do their job. Team up with WorkSafe for proven solutions. Connect with us online or call (316) 262-8800 for more information.