Bandage
Bandages can be used in a mouse arm both preventively (preventive) and as a therapy medium. Patients should always wear a bandage if they know that their arm/wrist is under heavy strain during the desired activity. The bandages not only relieve the muscles and tendons at risk, but also ensure an ergonomic hand position.
There are different models: from flexible fabric bandages to combined fabric and splint materials. It is important that the natural freedom of movement is not restricted – otherwise there is a risk that the muscles will deteriorate. The advice of an expert is therefore essential when choosing a bandage.
Tapes
Tapes are elastic strips that are stuck to the painful region to provide relief and reduce the pain. The freedom of movement is not affected by a tape bandage. In addition, tapes have a stimulating effect on the lymphatic and nervous systems, so that inflammations can heal faster.
There are various application techniques for the adhesive bandage on a mouse arm. In the following, only one possibility is described: The wrist and hand are positioned in a neutral position.The hand and fingers should be stretched as far as possible. Then, from about the middle of the back of the hand to about 10 cm before the elbows, apply a long tape.
Shortly before the elbow the tape divides into two reins and is stuck around the elbow. While the beginning and end of the tape are glued without tension, the tape is glued in the middle under maximum tension over the pain point. A second tape is stuck across the wrist to stabilize the wrist. You can find comprehensive information on the topics listed here in the articles listed here:
- Kinesiotape
- Lymphatic drainage
Treatment/What to do?
If a mouse arm is suspected, action must be taken immediately. Pain should never be ignored or suppressed with painkillers for a long time. Otherwise, the body’s overload reaction will only increase.
Pain-relieving medications, such as anti-inflammatory cortisone, should therefore only be used for a short period of time in cases of severe pain. The aim is to ensure that the affected person can continue to move without pain, but that the affected extremity is sufficiently protected. Pain medication only treats the complaints and not the underlying cause.
The first step is therefore to look for the causes of the mouse arm. Questions such as “When does the pain occur? “, “How is the workplace set up?”
usually help to get to the bottom of the cause. The next step is to eliminate these causes as best as possible. Workplace counseling and workplace adaptation can help to alleviate pain: Never, out of desperation, should those affected continue working with the non-dominant hand.
This hand is not sufficiently trained, is therefore quickly overloaded and there is a risk that the affected person will soon develop a mouse arm on both arms. In chronic pain, psychotherapeutic treatment can also be helpful to learn new behaviors and develop strategies against the pain.
- An ergonomic office chair
- A height-adjustable table for a relieving work activity
- An exchange of the conventional computer mouse for an ergonomic vertical mouse
- Massages
- Movement and stretching exercises
- Heating and cooling applications
- Relaxation techniques
