Research labs are global communities that work together to solve problems and drive innovation. Science is competitive and demands excellence. Much like an elite sport, the culture of the scientific field is one where people push themselves at all costs. This can have potentially serious consequences.
In fact, between 25-35% of all lab personnel are unwilling to disclose a workplace injury. Plungers are the most common complaint, with 90% of technicians experiencing pain after 60 minutes of continuous use.
The thumb is a major source of pipetting injuries. Hand and elbow pain are also prevalent. Pipetting causes the thumb to act as a mobilizing and stabilizing structure from an unstable position. The strain on lab workers using traditional plungers can reach unacceptable levels, and this only increases with age.
So, what can be done to stop chronic pain related to lab work?
Many essential research tools and processes can cause strain, which makes laboratory workers’ self-care particularly important. See helpful tips to reduce stress and fatigue below.
Top Three Laboratory Worker Self Care Ideas:
1. Participate in Strength Training and Stretching
Outside of the walls of a research facility, strength training is a healthy form of lab worker stress relief and a helpful way to prevent future injuries. Studies have shown that strength training focused on the neck, arms, and back is effective at both treating and preventing discomfort, benefits which become more important with age.
Activities such as yoga, weightlifting, and cardio will not only lower the risk of injury but will also improve your outlook and performance.
Some of the elements of strength training can also be incorporated into your lab exercises. For example, take time to occasionally stop and stretch. Changing positions or functions helps reduce the kind of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) that often lead to bigger issues, like musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), carpal tunnel syndrome, and more.
2. Use Proper Body Mechanics
The University of Pittsburgh recommends maintaining a neutral, comfortable position for your neck, arms, and wrist at all times when pipetting. It is also recommended to take a two-minute break every 20 minutes of pipetting. In addition, remember to:
- Sit correctly on a lab bench so that your back and feet are fully supported. Avoid having awkward posture.
- Minimize all twisting and rotating, and alternate hands, if you are able.
- When it comes to pipetting technique, use the lightest touch possible when operating the plunger, and use low-ejection-force tools.
- Use an electronic pipettor whenever possible.
3. Get the Right Lab Tools
MIDSCI has strain-reducing, ergonomic pipettes for every budget that will help with muscle fatigue, including:
- Alphapette Single Channel Pipettors – Our ultra-lightweight design reduces arm strain and offers the lowest ejection force available, at 2.2 kg. The plunger position has also been modified to give the thumb more stability. See Item
- Alphapette Multi-Channel Pipettes – This pipettor has the same features as the single-channel pipette, with one big advantage: its unique tip-ejecting design means force is only on two tips at a time. See Item
- E-pipettes – Electronic pipettes are recommended as the gold standard for reducing the strain of repetitive motion on lab users. See Item
- Capp Pipettes – Specifically designed for 384 pipetting! Faster, more accurate, and less strain for pipetting 16 or 64 wells at a time. See Item
- Machine – Looking for a large scale, but don’t need a robot? Check out the Precision Plus Series Pipettors, which can load one plate in seconds. This machine is the ultimate science lab stress reliever. See Item
MIDSCI Can Help Reduce Strain from Pipetting and Repetitive Movement
Save time and frustration by ordering your laboratory equipment with MIDSCI. We are large enough to deliver a wide range of pipettors and small enough to care for these tools — before and after delivery. We help scientific researchers in biotechnology and other life science fields find industry-leading equipment and supplies to help with everyday issues. And we have a customer service team staffed with product experts to make sure you feel confident in your purchase.
Lab workers’ self-care is critically important. Just like having the right tools for the task at hand.
Looking for pipettors and other equipment to help provide science lab stress relief? Submit a contact form online, or call us toll-free at 1 (833) 385-4578. You can also send an email to tech@midsci.com.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ergonomic Pipetting
What working posture should I use when pipetting?
Keep your wrist neutral, your elbows close to your body, and your forearms supported as much as possible. The University of Pittsburgh and other lab ergonomics guidance recommend a comfortable neck, arm, and wrist position, plus a seated setup where your back and feet are supported. If you’re standing, set the work surface so you’re not reaching up or hunching forward, because poor working postures increase strain fast. OSHA lab ergonomics guidance is a good reference point.
How often should I take breaks during manual pipetting?
A short break every 20 minutes is a common recommendation for repetitive pipetting, and some lab guidance calls for 1 to 2 minutes of rest, stretching, or task switching. That pause gives your thumb, wrist, and forearm time to recover before pipetting forces add up. If you’re doing high-volume work, rotating tasks can help just as much as a timed break.
Which pipette features reduce strain the most?
Look for ergonomic pipetting features that reduce force at the plunger and during tip attachment and tip ejection. Lightweight manual pipettes, electronic pipettes, low-force plungers, and models with a finger hook or other support point can reduce grip effort and thumb load. Good tip fit matters too, because tips that attach and eject smoothly lower the repeated force that often drives pain.
Can pipetting cause thumb pain or trigger finger?
Yes, repeated pipetting can aggravate the thumb and nearby tendons, and trigger finger is one of the problems that can show up after too much repetitive hand use. Pain often starts with soreness during plunger use, then can spread to the thumb, hand, elbow, or wrist. If symptoms keep returning, stop pushing through it and change the setup, tool, or workflow.
When should a lab bring in an ergonomist or request an ergonomic assessment?
Bring in an ergonomist when people report recurring discomfort, when one task is repeated for long stretches, or when a workflow depends on high-force pipetting. An ergonomic assessment can identify problems with bench height, reach distance, pipette choice, tip loading, and even small issues that affect reproducibility. It’s also useful when a team keeps compensating for awkward hand position or when one method causes more strain than others.
Does vibration matter with pipetting?
It can, especially if the task involves tools or accessories that create repeated jarring or hand fatigue over time. Even if the vibration is subtle, it adds another stressor on top of repetitive motion and forceful thumb use. In practice, the safest approach is to reduce all the small loads together, which means lower-force pipettes, better fit, better posture, and less repetition.
Works Cited
- David G, Buckle P., Appl Ergon. 1997 Aug;28(4):257-62. doi: 10.1016/s0003-6870(97)00002-1, PMID: 9414365
- University of Pittsburgh, Environmental Health and Safety Department https://www.ehs.pitt.edu/workplace/ergonomics/pipetting
