
Flexible Stuff - Article 9, Sunday, June 30, 2024
Neck Posture & Mouse Arm
In last week's article, I mentioned that I almost lost my right arm to paralysis. Fortunately, I analyzed a number of video selfies and after I figured out that my problem was due to posture, I straightened up and returned to normal. Note that poor posture is related to a number of visual things we regard as the look of aging, which is why I am bringing this up.
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Anyway, in the early 1990s, I was one of the first people to use a mouse and Photoshop extensively, well before ergonomics were widely discussed. Over time, the palm of my hand burned so much I couldn't stand to touch a door handle.
I consulted a neurologist who told me that the nerves in my neck were so badly damaged that I would never recover. Around this same time, it was becoming easy to attach video cameras to computers and save the images they captured. Upon reviewing those images, I clearly saw what was causing the problem.
My chair did not have an arm rest and after holding my arm stiffly for hours at a time, my shoulder just bent forward from the strain.
The video capture pictures I saw clearly showed that my clavicle (shoulder) was lifted while I worked, and my rib cage dipped forward, resulting in a deep dip similar to what you can see in the photo here. All this resulted in what today is known as "repetitive motion" disorder, or to be more exact in my case, "mouse arm."
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Today, mouse arm is commonly experienced, with many people resorting to surgery for a cure. In my opinion, however, the problem is caused by bad posture.
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To identify the source of mouse arm, take candids of yourself while working at your computer. If you see a deep dip right above your ribcage, you've identified your problem.
This can be corrected by getting better arm support, such as buying a chair with adjustable armrests. Also, stop continuously squeezing your mouse because that works against the natural motion of your shoulder muscles, causing a repetitive motion injury and a burning palm.
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Yes, I know that poor posture doesn't seem like such a serious thing, but take it from me, it can ruin your life and strangely enough, make you look older than you really are.
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TIP: Study pictures of anatomy, such as a diagram of your throat in this case. Pain is usually caused by nerves being pinched. If these nerves are not pinched due to an injury, then the source of the problem is probably the result of bad posture bearing down on them. ​​​​ ​​​​



YouTube has a wealth of tutorials that can help you straighten up. Use these online do-it-yourself exercises, combined with your new collection of selfies, to prove to yourself that improving your posture actually works.
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Obviously, if your problems persist, consult appropriate medical professionals. The more you work to understand the source of your disability, however, the better chance you'll have to cure the problem.
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Upcoming blogs . . .
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I post every Sunday. Feel free to contact me with questions at Karen@Littleviews.com.
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By Karen Little, June 30, 2024