The best ergonomic keyboards and accessories

2009-06-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

If you have carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis, or if you're trying to avoid it before it starts, the best thing you can do is get yourself an ergonomic workstation. I've been struggling with tendinitis for several years now, and every doctor I've spoken to has said that the best treatment is ergonomics. They even recommended ergonomics over rest, saying that the most important thing was to keep my arms in the correct posture to avoid further straining the muscles, tendons and ligaments in my wrists.

If you can avoid typing, I would still recommend it. However, recovering from carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries often includes a mental as well as physical component. If you start to think of yourself as disabled, and get distressed at the mere sight of a computer, this will increase your stress level when performing tasks with your wrists and hands. When you increase your stress level, you increase muscle tension. This leads in turn to further strain on your tendons and nerves.

So what should you do? Make a compromise with your body. Rest frequently, and when you do work, make sure you have the best products out there. I've been using the following products, and recommend them over everything else. Even if you don't ahve a severe problem yet, don't wait until your pain gets worse. Get these products, and fast. Especially the keyboard. It could be a lifesaver.

What to do about carpal tunnel syndrome

Step number one: Get yourself some excellent voice recognition software.

Voice recognition software types as you speak. This will take a huge part of the burden off of your hands. Keep in mind, however, that you won't be able to use it for everything. Things like proper nouns (names, addresses, etc.) will be hard for it to recognize, as will some numerical data. So even if you have great software, you'll want an ergonomic keyboard and mouse to back it up.

Best voice-recognition software for Mac users: MacSpeech

Best voice-recognition software for PC users: Dragon NaturallySpeaking

These two programs are essentially the same, since Mac ended up buying the Dragon NaturallySpeaking software. Basically it was the best thing out there, and still is. Don't bother with any other voice recognition program. These are the only ones that really work.

Best ergonomic mouse: Evoluent Ergonomic Vertical Mouse 3

As someone whose problems began from using a mouse rather than typing, I can say with authority that a good mouse is crucial to reducing carpel tunnel and wrist pain. The Evoluent mouse is also referred to as "the handshake mouse," because it allows your wrist to remain in the natural, handshake position, as illustrated below. The twisting of the wrist bones when you use a regular mouse puts extra strain on every muscle and ligament in your wrist, and is likely to be the primary cause of repetitive strain injuries associated with typing.

Best ergonomic keyboard: Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000

This is what I use, and it's by far the most popular ergonomic keyboard out there. It works on a similar principle as the mouse, allowing your wrists to maintain their natural, un- twisted position. It's also called a split keyboard, because it's split in the middle with each side sloping downwards. Once I started using this I was able to type at least five times as much without pain. It's a very, very worth it. Read more about it here.

Additional ergonomic products

Imak Ergobeads Wrist Cushion

YogaChair

Posture is very very important when typing. Even if your back feels fine (which it probably doesn't if you sit at a desk all day) any strain in your back, neck or shoulders can be carried down to your arms. Remember, everything Leads back your spinal cord. If you slouch, your wrists will suffer. This chair is great because it makes it almost impossible to slouch. It also doubles as a yoga chair, so you can relax with some meditation or deep breathing after work.
Or, if you prefer, relax with a beer on the couch. You'll still feel better at the end of the day.

Laptop Stand

The Ergonomic Desk

The best ergonomic keyboards and accessories