Have any of you run across any students whose right index finger clicking on their computer mouse has impaired the smoothe, controlled movement of that index finger? This person's index finger seems to throw in a very tiny extra movement on key strokes. If you've seen this before, what do you suggest?

I'd have them get checked out by a doctor who specializes in musician's injuries. This isn't normal, and it could get worse if untreated. I've never encountered this with a student, but I wouldn't take any chances.

I've been using my middle finger for months since acquiring a mouse with what seems to be strong springs.

I use a four button trackball, and with my lefthand to eliminate stress on only one finger and to equalize strain, since the RH tends to have more to do on the computer.

Computers are 100 times worse on the hands than the piano, when played correctly so I would tell any student to beware of strain!

Thanks everyone for the tips!

Mercurygirl,
There are many keyboard shortcuts that can substitute for mouse clicks. I find the mouse to be more stressful than the keyboard and have learned to minimize its use.
Windows XP shortcuts
Macintosh shortcuts
I have a difficulty controlling my right index finger that may be similar to your student's. It never occurred to me the problem could be due to years of mouse use, but it sounds plausible. Can you say more about the extra motion - what it looks like and under what circumstances it manifests? Do you have specific reasons for believing the mouse caused it?

The index finger motion is sort of like a very brief suspension/delay when descending from the 3rd finger and moving to the thumb. The right index finger also behaves as if it is "heavier" than its neighboring fingers. I'm assuming that its from computer mouse usage because that's what she is assuming. The left hand movement is very smooth with all fingers. So far we've been working on very slow Hanon and some staccato strokes and the movement seems to be smoothing out, but still only if she goes no faster than 16ths at MM=80. She switched her mouse to the left hand and will try that for a while as well.

Sounds like trigger finger to me - the tendon swells up in one particular spot from all the irritation and then when it has to go through the sheath in that spot, there is a "bump". A doctor visit is probably indicated.

I've got that in my fifth finger on my right hand, but not within the range of motion needed for piano, thankfully.

One possible workaround could be a program called MouseTool - it clicks the mouse for you when you pause it. I gave myself a horrendous case of bursitis from too much mouseclicking, and that program really helped.