Medically-proven Mouse Can Alleviate Problems

Medically-proven Computer Mouse Can Alleviate Problems From Repetitive Stress Injuries, Fastest-growing Work-related InjuryAvailability of a medically-proven ergonomically designed computer mouse, created to alleviate Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI).Already widely used in over 20 European countries, the Upright Ergonomic Mouse has already created a buzz in the U.S. and Japan, where retailers and select individuals have tested the product.

Repetitive Stress Injury, which causes often debilitating pains in fingers, wrists, arms, and shoulders, afflicts two million people in the U.S. alone -- a number that is expected to grow as computer use in the workplace increases. Over 60% of workers in the U.S. will use computers by the year 2000 and two-thirds of their time will be spent using a mouse. RSI, which arises from musculoskeletal and nerve problems, already costs U.S. businesses an estimated $20 billion a year in health care costs, missed work, and loss of productivity. Some $7 billion of those costs stems from injuries associated with mouse use.

The Upright Ergonomic Mouse, which was two years in development, alleviates and in many cases prevents development of RSI problems. The key is the unusual design, which differs dramatically from that of other self-labeled ergonomic mouses.The patented Ergonomic Mouse resembles a pilot-stick, and unlike many so-called ergonomic mouses, lets users hold the forearms and wrists in a natural position, with the heel of the hand down. Users rest the back of their hand at the base of the mouse and the thumb on the switch at the top of the stick for easy right and left clicks of the mouse button. That position drastically reduces muscle load without sacrificing accuracy and speed of mousing.Interestingly, this natural hand position has come to be recognized by industrial manufacturers, including Harley-Davidson in the design of its motorcycle handlebars, as the best way to avoid RSI.Other so-called ergonomic products, which may not have been subject to rigorous medical testing, require users to swivel their wrist so their palm is facing down. Even joysticks, which the Upright Ergonomic Mouse slightly resembles, require people to twist their wrists. That automatically puts strain on the surrounding muscles, which can contribute to the development of Repetitive Stress Injuries or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Users in the U.S. and Scandinavia attest to the Upright Ergonomic Mouse's ability to relieve wrist and hand pain.

Use of the Upright Ergonomic Mouse in Europe has reached over 70,000 users, where it is sold in all major computer retail outlets and most direct sales companies. The product is widely used and available across most of Europe, where it is distributed through resellers and retailers.The U.S. boasts the largest market for computers and computer peripherals. More than 40 million computer mice were sold in the U.S. in 1997. Roughly half of those were replacement units, the other half were new. The overall marketplace is worth $800 million.

A study was carried out in 1995 in Norway and is currently being continued by researchers at the Center for Ergonomic Design, at Miami University of Ohio, to compare the Upright Ergonomic Mouse with a traditional mouse to determine the effects on muscle load and the possible causes of RSI and CTS. The test consisted of actual measurements of muscle load on wrist, hand, forearm, and back muscles using Electromyography (EMG) as well as questionnaires for the subjects on pain and computer use. A key finding: the muscle load on the forearm proved significantly lower with the Upright Ergonomic Mouse than with a conventional mouse. Moreover, the amount of time that a user experiences low muscle load are dramatically greater with the Upright Ergonomic Mouse than with the traditional mouse.

It is the belief of the researchers, lead by Dr. Arne Araas, that a reduction in muscle load is thought to play an important role in the prevention of pain in the musculoskeletal system. Dr.Arne Araas team found that the Upright Ergonomic Mouse involves only slight flexion of the wrist and slight pronation of the hand which results in low pressure in the carpal tunnel. This pressure may be a key factor in the development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.