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If your job requires you to spend a great deal of time sitting in front of a computer, and, naturally, using the mouse and keyboard, you surely are already aware of how much stress and strain this will put on your hands and your wrist every single day. As the technology keeps improving day by day, making our lives more efficient and easier, more of us are spending long durations of time at our computers, but as a result, unfortunately, we're now suffering from a very familiar condition which is called carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, along with a number of other repetitive stress injuries.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a newly recognized medical entity, despite having existed for many years. The reason for the recent interest in the subject is probably the rise in incidence caused by the daily use of the computer keyboard.

To understand the great difference an ergonomically designed mouse pad can make when dealing with the pain and discomfort of carpal tunnel syndrome, we must first learn about this delicate area of the wrist that the condition was named after.

The carpal tunnel is actually a void created by ligaments, tendons and bone that are located along the bottom of the wrist. Within that void, a major nerve relays signals that it has received from the brain to the hands and fingers. This nerve is called the median nerve.

If excessive pressure is applied to this region, or if it grows aggravated because of excessive use or repeated movements, fluid accumulates leading it to become inflamed and swollen along with painful.

Selecting the Perfect Ergonomic Mouse Pad

The ergonomic mouse pad has dual functions. One is to provide cushion to the wrist and the carpal tunnel inside the wrist, the other is to keep the wrist and hand in their most natural position. While standing, the wrist and hand hang down in the direction of the body at an angle, thus, when seated, we must try to make sure our hands and wrists are permitted to be in their most relaxed position.

A number of ergonomic mouse pads are made with wrist rests which have a pliable, spongy, gel-like material inside. This lessens the force against the carpal tunnel and its supporting tendons and ligaments.

Keeping the wrist on a rigid surface exerts too much strain on the wrist which causes the median nerve to be compacted. This results in symptoms such as stinging and loss of feeling in the fingers, along with a weakened grip, soreness and inflammation.

Even with mouse pads that contain a soft gel, you still ought to be in the habit of resting the edge of your palms on the wrist rest instead of putting full force on the center of the wrist proper.

Also adding, when you use an ergonomic mouse pad, it is essential that you make sure the rest of your work area is ergonomically correct or you will not be getting the full use out of the mouse pad's special design.

Your chair must be at the right height so your arms just rest on the desk, with the wrist on an ergonomic mouse pad, certainly, and you must also try to keep both your feet flat on the ground while you work with a straight back.

Stop your typing from time to time, and give your hands, wrists and fingers an occasional rest and a stretch.

For additional Ergonomic Tips and Productivity helps, visit Ergonomic Resources!