Technology Solutions > Seating and positioning > Shoulder Pain or Discomfort
Shoulder pain or discomfort can result from a number of problems. It may be a positioning issue, such as reaching to use the mouse or keyboard, or it may be related to a medical condition, such as a shoulder injury, stroke (hemiplegia), or a neurological condition.
Shoulder pain, while using a keyboard or mouse, can be accommodated by "taking the weight off the shoulders." The following list includes some accommodations of your shoulder pain:
Articulating Arm Supports
Articulating arm supports clamp to the work surface and provide support to the forearms while keyboarding. The arm supports have a flowing, pivoting movement on the horizontal plane, and can be height adjusted to accommodate different work environments. They are usually used in pairs.
Shoulder stress can be greatly reduced as the articulating arm support is taking the weight of the arms.
Articulating Gel Forearm Support
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ErgoRest
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Chair Armrests
Debate continues as to whether resting your elbows on the armrests of a chair is a good idea. While this question is left for individuals to determine for themselves, when there is a problem with the shoulders the use of armrests warrants serious consideration.
The various manufacturers of ergonomic office chairs have developed different armrests for their chairs. Those listed here are ones with which Neil Squire Solutions has had experience in resolving specific problems. Neil Squire Solutions does not endorse a particular manufacturer. We recognize there are many armrests available and urge consumers to check out what is available to help them with their problem.
Chair armrests vary according to their adjustability and the materials used in their manufacture. Some things to consider when evaluating armrests:
- Adjustability: Getting the armrests in the right spot is crucial.
- Height: Height-adjustable armrests are recommended over fixed-height armrests. Height-adjustable armrests can be easily positioned to best accommodate your posture.
- Pivot or swivel: Pivot armrests provide added adjustment by having the armrest pivot along the axis of the armrest support. This allows you to twist the armrests in, to enable full forearm support, and to twist the armrests out when you need to get out of the chair. Some manufacturers use a sliding technology where the armrest does not pivot but slides laterally, so that you can move the armrest closer or further away.
- Construction: People with shoulder problems generally desire well-padded, soft armrests.
- Surface covering: The surfact covering will determine how the armrest feels. Manufacturers use a variety of materials to cover their armrests, with soft armrests usually having a naugahyde-type or fabric covering.
- Material inside the armrest: The core of the armrest will determine how soft it is. Soft armrests usually have foam or gel-filled cores.
Friction Tracker Armrest by Neutral Posture
This armrest has been popular with people with shoulder problems due its adjustability, as the armrest has two pivot points (most pivoting armrests have one pivot point).
The padding is soft and comfortable, which contributes to its popularity with people with shoulder problems.
Ball Bearing Tracker Armrest by Neutral Posture
This armrest also has two pivot points.
The armrest moves as your forarms move, making it easy to change from keyboarding to operating a mouse.
Leap Chair Armrest by Steelcase
This armrest has a single point pivot, but the pad can slide, allowing it to be positioned closer to the body.
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Wrist Rests
Debate continues as to whether resting your wrists on wristrests is a good idea. The current advice is that a wristrest should be used for "resting." When keyboarding your wrists should be held in a neutral postion and "float" over the keyboard without making contact with the wristrest. When you have stopped keyboarding you then rest the wrists on the wristrest.
Some problems associated with using a wristrest while keyboarding include:
- The computer operator may tend to lean into the wristrest, increasing the pressure on the carpal tunnel which might contribute to carpal tunnel irritation.
- The width of the wristrest places the keyboard further away from the operator, increasing stress on unsupported shoulders.
- Moving the hands over the keyboard may cause skin irritation as the wrists rub against the wristrest.
- Depending on the thickness of the wristrest and keyboard, the computer operator may need to increase wrist extension while keyboarding.
Consumers should be aware of these issues and monitor their seating postures and movements while operating a computer.
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For more details on chair anatomy and chair adjustments click here.