avatarSruthi Korlakunta

Summary

The article discusses the ergonomic benefits and personal experiences of using a vertical mouse, a trackball mouse, and a regular mouse to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.

Abstract

The author, Sruthi Korlakunta, shares their journey in search of an ergonomic mouse to alleviate hand strain and prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. After trying a trackball mouse (Logitech M575 Wireless Trackball Mouse ERGO) and a vertical mouse (Trust Verto), the author concludes that both have their advantages and disadvantages. The trackball mouse, while initially challenging to adapt to, eventually helped relax the hand due to minimal wrist movement. The vertical mouse, on the other hand, required no adjustment period and provided a natural resting position for the hand but still involved similar wrist movement to a regular mouse. The author recommends alternating between different types of mice to avoid repetitive motions and suggests that the vertical mouse may be the best single choice for those seeking an ergonomic option for office work.

Opinions

  • The trackball mouse was initially difficult to use but ultimately helped to relax the hand and arm.
  • The vertical mouse was instantly comfortable and allowed the hand to rest naturally, but the model tested was wired and had awkwardly placed forward and backward buttons.
  • The author suggests that using all three types of mice (regular, trackball, and vertical) and switching between them can be beneficial for hand health.
  • If forced to choose only one mouse, the author would recommend the vertical mouse due to its immediate comfort and ergonomic design.
  • The author is considering further ergonomic improvements, such as an ergonomic keyboard, based on the positive experience with the ergonomic mice.
  • The regular mouse is the least preferred option and would be the first to be discarded if the author were to eliminate one of the mice.

Best Mouse to Prevent Carpal Tunnel

Vertical mouse vs. a static mouse with a track-ball vs. a regular mouse.

Three little mice. Photo by author. Left to right, Regular mouse, track-ball mouse, and vertical mouse.

I have sensitive hands. After a long day at work, my hands seem to have reduced “tension” in them and I felt the constant need to stretch my forearms and wrists.

I wanted a durable ergonomic mouse that doesn’t make my palm feel like it is “hanging” in the air after a long day. I needed one only for office work and not a gaming mouse.

I tried a track-ball mouse ( The one in the middle above), and a couple of weeks later, a vertical mouse. Here is what worked and what did not.

tl;dr: For a healthy hand, get all three of them and switch them up. If you want only one, get the vertical mouse.

Trackball Mouse

Track-ball mouse. It stays static while you move the cursor around with your thumb.

I got the Logitech M575 Wireless Trackball Mouse ERGO because it had the most reviews on amazon among those of its kind, and 4.5 stars. It also was in the “middle” of the price range at a decent 35 Eur in Germany.

The next option was Logitech MX Ergo, which was twice the price but also offered adjustable tilt-angle. I chose the former for the price.

This mouse took some getting-used-to. I could not easily digest the fact that a mouse does not move at all. I had to control the cursor position with my thumb.

At the beginning it felt like a lot of work. I switched very often to my regular mouse. I left both of them connected to the computer, in case I have to panic and reach for the regular mouse.

As time passed, I could tell that not moving my wrist was actually very relaxing. The stability of this mouse grew on me and now I don’t reach for a regular mouse at all. Here is a summary.

Trackball mouse experience:

Pros:

  1. Yes, IT DOES HELP in relaxing the hand and helped my symptoms.
  2. The tilt of the mouse is alright. If you want something adjustable, try this, which offers flexible tilt but at twice the price.
  3. The fact that the wrist doesn't move a lot helps my arms relax.
  4. Has back and forward buttons for page shift.
  5. Once you get used to it, it is great for office work.

Cons

  1. The side of the palm does not rest completely on the ground. Maybe my palms are too small.
  2. Because of not completely being able to rest my palm in its “natural position”, I sometimes take a break to tilt my palm to rest vertically.
  3. The mouse looks like it is built for larger hands.
  4. Took about two weeks to get used to.
  5. When colleagues walk up to my desk, they need a regular mouse to use my computer.

Vertical Mouse

Vertical mouse. Photo by author.

I wasn’t sure if I’d get used to a track-ball mouse. I got a vertical mouse to test if that was the better option. I bought the Trust Verto vertical mouse, because it also had a large number of ratings and an overall 4.5 stars.

This mouse hardly needed any adjustment time. It was the same old mouse with a 180-degree tilt. The side of my hand rests completely on the desk and it is a very pleasant feeling.

The build is very comfortable, with a smooth surface finish that feels amazing in your palms.

Pros:

  1. Yes, it helps relax my arm.
  2. No adjustment time needed
  3. The side of the hand rests completely on the ground, feeling very natural.
  4. Good looking mouse.
  5. Fits perfectly into my rather small hand.

Cons:

  1. This particular model is a wired mouse. They have a wireless version for about the same price.
  2. Wrist movement is still the same as with a regular mouse.
  3. The forward and backward buttons are awkwardly placed and I cannot really use them.

In the end, I’d recommend that you get one of each kind and switch them up so that your arm does not stick to one motion over a long time. Both these mouses are a good alternative to your regular mouse. But if you want only one get the vertical mouse.

I am actually contemplating getting an ergonomic keyboard too because the ergonomic mice were actually value addition to my hand health.

Currently, I use all three of them. The two “special mice” more regularly than the normal mouse. If I had to get rid of one mouse permanently, it’d be the regular mouse.

I am Sruthi Korlakunta, I write on tech, lifestyle, and books (I’m a top writer on this topic). If you have a story to share, hit me up on LinkedIn! I have 890+ followers, over 225k reads, and counting.

Read all you want on Medium by joining with my referral link here. It costs 5$ a month and changed my life!

Ergonomics
Health
Tennis Elbow
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Work Safety
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