Do you spend a lot of time on the computer, and notice pain especially in the arm that uses the mouse ? Pain in your neck and shoulder, which diminishes at weekends or when you’re using your computer yourself?
It’s probably due to what’s sometimes called mouse-related repetitive strain injury. All my advice as a physiotherapist AND a person concerned by this pain, backed up by data from the international scientific literature.
♻️ Last update: November 3, 2025
Written by Nelly Darbois, physiotherapist and scientific editor
What exactly is mouse-related repetitive strain injury (RSI) ?
Mouse syndrome is not a medical term. It is hardly ever used in academic literature, according to my Google Scholar search.
It is more commonly used by the general public to designate all muscular and joint pains occurring in people using a computer mouse. Mainly in :
- shoulder ;
- neck ;
- wrist ;
- fingers ;
- elbow ;
- scapula and upper back.
Although this syndrome is not described in the medical literature, dozens of publications are interested in the link between using a mouse and musculoskeletal pain. Here are some of the facts they report.
More than 9 out of 10 people who work at a computer have what is known as scapular dyskinesia: the scapula moves differently during arm movements. This dyskinesia is very often associated with neck pain, and quite often with shoulder pain [Moon 2023].
We move less when using a mouse than when typing on a keyboard. Lack of mobility and change of position is therefore a potential explanation for this pain [Niekerk 2015].
How can you be sure it’s this and not something else?
There are many shoulder pathologies, especially after the age of 40.
If you consult a doctor or physiotherapist about your pain, you’ll benefit from a differential diagnosis: your healthcare professional will rule out specific pathologies that could explain your shoulder pain.
In general, a simple questioning and clinical examination are sufficient to rule out specific pathologies such as retractile capsulitis or rotator cuff tears.
In case of doubt, additional imaging tests will be ordered.
In case of “mouse-related RSI”, you logically have less pain on days when you don’t use it or use it much less. For example, during weekends or vacations.
🎯 9 tips to implement for less pain
Here’s a list of tips I’ve been recommending to my patients over the last few years to try and limit or ease their mouse-related pain.
Tips I’ve also implemented for myself! And since I’ve devoted myself 100% to my online activities, I spend over 40 hours a week on the computer.
And so I in turn experienced the pain and burning sensations in my neck and shoulder that radiate, strongly correlated with the time spent using the mouse…
Sometimes use the computer pad rather than the mouse.
Use your left hand (or right if you’re left-handed) to move the mouse from time to time .
At first it’s very difficult, but then you get used to it.
Position your mouse in different places , especially in front of your computer rather than on its side: “central mouse”.
The weight of the arm rests more on the table, making it easier to relax and putting less muscular strain on the shoulder and neck.
Like this:
Learn how to use keyboard shortcuts or voice commands to spend less time using the mouse.
Rest your forearms as far as possible on a support (table, desk) to relax your shoulders and avoid having to carry your arm.
Put your arm at rest when you’re not using the mouse or keyboard.
Forearm on stomach, shoulder relaxed: the shoulder is in a resting position like this, as if you were wearing a splint, resting on your leg (cross your legs if necessary). Like this:
Try to be as relaxed as possible when using the keyboard or mouse.
Think once in a while when you have your mouse “how I feel” and take a deep breath to relax your shoulder if you feel all tensed up.
Take breaks from time to time and stretch.
Stretch your arms upwards. Turn your head to the right and left, then back. Pull neck back (like a hen). Pull shoulders back.
It’s perfect for tea and coffee breaks!
I’ll show you on video:
Use an ergonomic vertical mouse (see amazon – affiliate link).
I’ve put this solution second to last because it’s not a “miracle cure”. I think it’s by varying the tricks, positions and office equipment you use that you’ll see improvements, not just by adopting this type of mouse.
Vertical mice are primarily designed to relieve pain in the wrist and fingers [Oveisi 2024].
Bonus: adopt an active lifestyle !
All other things being equal, we find that people with an active lifestyle (several hours of walking or physical or sporting activity per week, generating breathlessness) have less pain.
***
That’s all I wanted to say on the subject! Any questions or comments? See you in comments!
You may also be interested in these articles
📚 SOURCES
Moon SE, Kim YK. Neck and Shoulder Pain with Scapular Dyskinesis in Computer Office Workers. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Dec 13;59(12):2159. doi: 10.3390/medicina59122159. PMID: 38138262; PMCID: PMC10744820.
Van Niekerk SM, Fourie SM, Louw QA. Postural dynamism during computer mouse and keyboard use: A pilot study. Appl Ergon. 2015 Sep;50:170-6. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2015.03.009. Epub 2015 Apr 5. PMID: 25959332.
Oveisi E, Khanlari P, Ebrahimzadeh-Afrouzi M. Carpal tunnel syndrome severity, hand discomfort, and usability among three types of computer mouse. Work. 2024;77(3):873-882. doi: 10.3233/WOR-220492. PMID: 37807794.
Written by Nelly Darbois
I enjoy writing articles that answer your questions, drawing on my experience as a physiotherapist and scientific writer, as well as extensive research in international scientific literature.
I live in the French Alps☀️🏔️, where I enjoy the simple pleasures of life (+ I’m a Wikipedia consultant and the founder of Wikiconsult).
