Why Do Pipette Users Have Pain?
Repeated motion such as pipetting, reaching for supplies, and twisting to read protocols – over and over, all day long – can injure muscles, tendons, and joints. • Pipettes that are heavy or require a lot of thumb force make muscles work harder than they should. • Pipettes that are too long or too thin require too much force to grip them. • Long work hours with few breaks or little task rotation mean your muscles and joints don’t have time to recover. • An uncomfortable work position such as bending your wrist for long periods or reaching too far for supplies can result in pain and injury. • Cold temperatures, vibrations, and hard edges can make injury more likely (e.g., work in cold rooms, vibrations from vortexing, and pressing against hard lab benches for long periods).
