Vertical Mouse

[Shrek]

Not for me, but what are the takes on vertical mice to relieve what might be carpal tunnel syndrome

 

[evernessince]

Vertical mice don't resolve the carpel tunnel issue, you will still develop pain it'll just be a in different spot.

What I've found to be effective in no particular order: 1) Stretching 2) Using a mouse with light clicks. 3) Learning to use your mouse with both hands. I swap between my right and left hands now and that's greatly alleviated the issue.

Pen mice / using a drawing tablet are also an option with the caveat that they have definite drawbacks.

 

[Frick]

Rollermouses are pretty ubiquitous among healthcare/government workers here. Liked my many, and once you get used to them you get wicked fast, because the mouse is so close to the keyboard.

 

[mechtech]

Not for me, but what are the takes on vertical mice to relieve what might be carpal tunnel syndrome

Not sure about actual carpal, but a long time ago as a summer student we got an evoluent vertical mouse for one of the admin clerks and she said it made a huge difference (improvement)

 

[evernessince]

Not sure about actual carpal, but a long time ago as a summer student we got an evoluent vertical mouse for one of the admin clerks and she said it made a huge difference (improvement)

Eventually the pain will come back, just in a different spot. It'll provide temporary relief without addressing the long term issue.

 

[mechtech]

Eventually the pain will come back, just in a different spot. It'll provide temporary relief without addressing the long term issue.

Ya full-blown carpal tunnel is a different animal from soreness and strain.

 

[evernessince]

Ya full-blown carpal tunnel is a different animal from soreness and strain.

It is different and it doesn't change the fact that a vertical mouse won't help either. As I said before, it'll provide temporary relief at best even for those with just wrist soreness / weakness and not full blown carpal tunnel. If you look at accounts by people with RSI who had moved to vertical mice for an extended period of time, you'd see that they noted that their soreness reappears further down their arm from where their original soreness was. The idea behind vertical mice is that they relieve wrist pressure but that would only help if wrist pressure is the issue to begin with. For many people is the repetitive clicking that is the problem. Until you address both issues, you do not have a truly ergonomic solution. If someone must go to a more ergonomic solution, a pen / drawing tablet is a much more effective solution as it addresses all the potential causes.

 

[gurusmi]

Not for me, but what are the takes on vertical mice to relieve what might be carpal tunnel syndrome

If i would have problems with the movement of my hand i would give Trackballs a try.

Logitech MX Ergo Plus Advanced Wireless Trackball for PC and MAC with Extra 10° Wedge

 

[Bill_Bright]

Vertical mice don't resolve the carpel tunnel issue, you will still develop pain it'll just be a in different spot.

I agree. Changing to a vertical mouse "may" relieve repetitive stress pain in some places, but introduce new issues in new places.

Only two things relieved my carpel pain. First, I got a good mouse pad. I rest the heel of my hand on it. But note it was not so much about the pad being soft. It was all about elevating my wrist and and setting a straight "angle of attack" from my elbow forward.

The second thing was I moved my mouse to the other side of my computer (see "Critical note" below). Surprisingly (to me, anyway) while right-handed, it really didn't take me long at all to get used to using my mouse in my left hand. In fact, productivity went up because I could use my mouse in my left hand at the same time I used the number pad, or a pen/pencil with my right. Now, the mouse on the right side feels awkward - and no, I am not ambidextrous.

Critical note: Carpel tunnel "damage" never goes away. It is permanent! The pain comes from the inflammation (swelling) caused by the repetitive motion. If you stop that repetitive motion (move mouse to other side) and allow the swelling and inflammation to subside, the pain may go away and "further" damage may be prevented. But any actual damage to the tendons, nerves and nerve sheath (tunnel) that already occurred is permanent.

The only permanent fix is surgery - which is not 100% certain, or without its own set of risks.

 

[AsRock]

These help you not to get the issue in the first place.

 

[Solaris17]

Ya full-blown carpal tunnel is a different animal from soreness and strain.

This. Not to mention as others have alluded to the mouse is just part of an entire eco system of support to help.

getting a different mouse isn’t going to stop carpal tunnel. Your mouse pad, a proper fitting mouse (I’m not just talking ergo and vertical) , your desk posture and desk leveling all plays a part in back, neck and wrist pain.

imo if your not taking the 10+ min you need to properly set chair height and tension and desk height you have already lost.

 

[Bill_Bright]

your desk posture and desk leveling all plays a part in back, neck and wrist pain.

^^^THIS^^^ BIG time! Just another reason my monitors MUST have height adjustment too. I can change the height of my chair, but not my desk.