Can a Vertical Mouse Help With Arthritis?

Posted on 10/20/2022

Everything in the world is now almost fully digital. As technology keeps growing, it is becoming more inclusive. Technology is supposed to make life easy for everyone. This includes people with different physical and medical issues.

One such condition that requires inclusivity is people with arthritis. Arthritis is a joint condition that makes it difficult to move and work normally. Sometimes, the issues only arise when performing tasks for a long time—for instance, when using the computer mouse. There has been innovation in this device to help patients with arthritis use the mouse more comfortably. The innovation is the vertical or ergonomic mouse.

What Is a Vertical Mouse?

As the name suggests, a vertical mouse is a mouse that sits upright in contrast to normal mice that lie down. The mouse's scroll wheel and buttons are rotated at 90 degrees. It works much in the same way as a conventional mouse, but it is less taxing on the muscles and joints of the hand. It allows the user to scroll and handle mouse tasks for much longer without tension.

The thumb-up position with your hand resting on it is a much more efficient design. The mice have the same left and right buttons and a scroll feature.

How Does It Work?

As mentioned above, the design of the vertical mouse allows the hand to stay upright. The bones and joints in the arm, radius, ulna, elbow, and shoulder stay in a more natural position. The conventional mouse, on the other hand, puts a lot of pressure on these joints.

The vertical mouse is ergonomic because it lets the body retain natural positions when working. The natural position avoids injuries, muscle strain, and body overuse.

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can affect anyone at any age. There are two primary types of arthritis: rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Each affects the body's function differently, but they all affect the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect other body organs as it affects joints.

Arthritis causes stiffness, pain, and reduced range of motion in the affected joints. You may also suffer from constant fatigue. You may have a problem engaging in activity that puts your body under strain. One of the activities that are difficult to participate in is using computer mice. It can make it difficult to work. In turn, it affects your ability to access care.

How a Vertical Mouse Helps People With Arthritis

Conventional mice restrict how much movement an arthritic patient can perform and for how long. When they use the keyboard and mouse for a long time, their joints may swell from too much pressure. A vertical mouse helps remedy this by allowing the arm and its parts to maintain natural positions. People with arthritis can work much more comfortably and for long hours without excessive pressure on their hands and arms.

For more on whether a vertical mouse helps with arthritis, visit East Bay Hand & Upper Extremity at our office in Oakland, California. Call (510) 904-1100 to book an appointment today.