Is Your Computer Mouse Causing You Upper Back Pain?

The Hidden Dangers of the Office

When most people think of repetitive stress injuries (RSI), they tend to think of injuries caused by high-impact activities or highly physical jobs. But contrary to that popular belief, office workers are at major risk for RSI due to the — you guessed it — the small repetitive motions associated with using a computer or making phone calls. These motions strain the muscles and tendons of the neck and upper back, causing neck pain or upper back pain.

Treating Repetitive Stress Injuries

Healthline has an excellent breakdown on this sort of repetitive stress injury, including steps you can take to deal with upper back pain and neck pain caused by your work environment. Some of these steps are:

• Taking care to sit properly
• Arranging your workspace to be ergonomically correct
• Take frequent, short walks
• Get a headset if you spend a lot of time on the phone
• Use your mouse with your opposite hand to give your shoulder a break