Does Your Mouse Properly Support Your Palm?

palmar support

When you use a computer mouse, the only way to prevent unnecessary tension is by using a mouse that provides proper palmar support. The way to realise this low tension, is with a mouse body that utilises a hand-supporting ball shape as a rest for the hand’s palm.

Palmar Support

The palm is ideal for supporting the hand, due to its strong membrane and the fatty tissue at the bases of our fingers. Naturally though, we need to be able to use the mouse buttons.When you use a conventional, or a vertical mouse, both your fingers and thumb operate the mouse.
This button clicking causes action and reaction forces in your fingers and thumb, introducing significant stresses to your hand muscles. This is a common source of forearm complaints. This theory is supported by anatomical observations and field research.

mouse reaction forces          reaction forces of vertical mouse          palmar support handshoe mouse

Prevent Unneccesary Strains

A mouse body with a fitting contour to support the palm of your hand and fingers can prevent these reaction forces.
The body of the mouse not only supports your hand, but also acts as a counter balance, absorbing the forces and preventing  unnecessary strain to your hand, wrist or fingers.

Why the Handshake Position is NOT Neutral

handshake is not neutral

handshake is not neutralThe so called “handshake” position of a vertical mouse has been discussed by many ergonomists.
Some claim that the handshake is a “neutral position” but research has shown that this is not the case at all.

In general a neutral posture refers to a relaxed position, so minimal tension of tendons, ligaments and muscles.
With respect to certain positions of the forearm though, there is a misunderstanding.

Handshake: Interosseous Membrane is Taut

It is generally assumed that the handshake position is neutral.
However, the forearm bone, called radius, is arched with respect to the other bone, the ulna. These two bones are connected by the interosseous membrane.

When one rotates the forearm into the handshake position, the distance between radius and ulna increases to a point where the membrane is taut.
Finger and thumb muscles which we use to lightly grip and hold an object are connected to this membrane.

One must therefore realize that gripping an object in the handshake position will actually introduce additional tension in the already taut membrane.
If we rotate the forearm to relax the membrane we will remove this harmful high tension.

Mouse Hand Must Be Supported at Angle of 25 Degrees

A hand supported at an angle of around 25 degrees with respect to a desktop realizes a truly neutral, tensionless membrane.
This prevents potential muscular and other damage during longstanding and repetitive movements.

Watch this short, one minute video:

An other interesting article addresses “Action is Reaction“;  Have a look there to understand the full picture.