back problems

[Pica]

It seems that several people in our design office are having problems w/ back pain, specifically that stabbing pain between the shoulders that comes from a combo of poor desk posture and marathon mousing. I saw a commercial a while back for a mouse pad that attaches to the armrest of your desk chair and it seemed to me at the time that it could be a possible solution to the "pinch of death." Has anyone here tried one of those or know where I could find one?

[rickself]

I'm not aware of the arm-chair mouse.

One thing that I find works when I get that stress-pinch 'tween the shoulders is to start swinging the elbow back and forth...with feeling. The salesman usually leaves doubled-over and I feel much better the rest of the day!!

[Silence04]

just have the owner bring in a office massage therapist every so often... those are the best.
not as good as the office hookers though...

[orkaknos12]

wacom's do wonders for the mouse hand syndrome ;). Once you get good at it, it's mind blowingly fast.. you don't have to drag a cursor around - just point and tap. other than that.. better chairs and desks.. I got a nice, firm chair and my back is great. I slouched too much in the straight back chairs.. also stand up and go chat with a friend in the office for a bit.. that usually loosens things up a bit. Sometimes the pinch can be casued from stress and caffeine too.

-Jon