Ergonomic mouse

[steveG]

I've been having a bit of grief lately with right forearm pain/stiffness, and noticing that its worse when using the mouse on the computer.
I'm in an IT job so spend a fair bit of time with mouse in hand.

Anyone recommend a good ergonomic mouse, or have hints on what to look for when choosing one?

Steve

[Judo]

Before you look at a mouse - or perhaps as well as - have you done a proper assessment of your desk and chair setup and subsequently posture while at a PC?

Buying ergonomic equipment is a great idea, but be careful you're not ignoring the root cause...

Edit: Didn't answer your question. Sorry. :p

[TeamFA]

Before you look at a mouse - or perhaps as well as - have you done a proper assessment of your desk and chair setup and subsequently posture while at a PC?

Buying ergonomic equipment is a great idea, but be careful you're not ignoring the root cause...

Edit: Didn't answer your question. Sorry. :p


I agree with this - seating position is very important, in conjunction with the right mouse (and keyboard).

That said, you don't have to buy an "ergonomic" mouse to get a better fit for you hand, or the way you use the mouse. A cheaper generic mouse might work better, if it happens to fit your hand better or fit the way you use your mouse better.

I use my mouse in a pincer-grip (ie. between thumb and fingers, but don't touch the mouse with the palm of my hand), and ergonomic mice aren't of any benefit to me.

Another option is a trackball. A little bit of getting used to, but they use the muscles of your arm/hand differently, so might give some relief.

Another thing I have seen tried, though I haven't had to, is train yourself to use your left hand. I know a couple of SAP ABAP programmers that have done this to good effect.

As for mice - do Harvey Norman and the like still have their range of mice on display? You used to be able to go in and physically check them out. It won't give you a long-term analysis, but you can see how each feels to your hand.

[superquag]

Thought of using - replace or occasional - a trackball ?

Different muscles being used, differing amounts and movement ranges.

Yes, I know they're few and far between...

The human body seems to work better with gross motor movements, and/or 'pressure' variations. Pushing 'zero' force in exacting, rigidly controlled micro-movements seems to be the worst.
Then there's the personalitiy. Obsessive and goal-driven folk will fare badly, regardless of mouse design.

In the mean time you could alter the speed of the mouse, so you need to physically move it further on the desk to traverse the same distance on-screen.
--- And get up onto your feet every 15 ~ 20 minutes.

[kogvos]

As others have said, ergonomics of the whole set up is important, but I have also spent a lot of time over the years trying various mice (and keyboards). It's a very personal choice, but I've had very good success with the Evoluent series of mice which use your hand in a sideways fashion (a bit like pushing a potato around your desk). I've also had good experience using more than one mouse or device and swapping between them during the day. At present I swap between an Evoluent right hand mouse and a Logitech trackpad I use with my left hand. I've tried using trackballs but I've never been able to warm to them.

[steveG]

Thanks all.
Have done a bit of a sanity check on the general ergonomics of the desk/chair etc and everything is pretty good.
My right hand is much more comfortable in the stubby-holding orientation than flat on the mouse. Have been trying a few different hand/mouse positions today after your suggestions so will pursue that further as well as looking into a different mouse - even if its only for use as a "something different"

Steve

[999]

I used to get a sore wrist until I got a wrist rest mine is a razer exactrest. I have it for about 8 years now. it works a treat.

[p38arover]

Thought of using - replace or occasional - a trackball ?

We used to use a trackball on one piece of equipment at work. I hated it - I couldn't get the accuracy I wanted cf. a mouse.

[spudboy]

Do a search for the Evoluent Mouse. It works in a vertical "handshake" sort of plane.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/09/823.jpg

I had bad RSI on my index finger (switched mouse hands for 2 or 3 months to let it get better) and then I came back to this. Mine is set up with one button to double click automatically, so no need for double clicking manually, which takes a lot of strain off the index finger (as you are using another button altogether with your 3rd finger - if that makes sense).

No problems since.

HTH
David

Edit: Just to say, it is as accurate as a normal mouse. Like Ron, I tried a trackball but it never really did it for me....

[p38arover]

That looks interesting.

[bee utey]

Two things I did when I got a bad case of "mouse wrist" a few years ago. Firstly I transferred the mouse action to a piece of MDF board sitting on my knees under the desk, freed up some precious desk space too. Secondly I swapped mousing to my left hand and use a towel loosely folded as a wrist rest. Very adjustable for comfort, deals with coffee spills too.:)

[kogvos]

Thanks all.
Have done a bit of a sanity check on the general ergonomics of the desk/chair etc and everything is pretty good.
My right hand is much more comfortable in the stubby-holding orientation than flat on the mouse. Have been trying a few different hand/mouse positions today after your suggestions so will pursue that further as well as looking into a different mouse - even if its only for use as a "something different"

Steve

If the "stubby-holding" position is good then I'd definitely recommend checking out the Evoluent (comes in right-hand and left-hand models) or the DXT Precision Mouse, although I didn't personally like this one (I found it awkward as I have large hands and long fingers). Either way, expect a learning curve with a new type of mouse... it's quite different and you need time to adapt. Don't give up straight away without giving it some time.

[p38arover]

Two things I did when I got a bad case of "mouse wrist" a few years ago. Firstly I transferred the mouse action to a piece of MDF board sitting on my knees under the desk, freed up some precious desk space too. Secondly I swapped mousing to my left hand and use a towel loosely folded as a wrist rest. Very adjustable for comfort, deals with coffee spills too.:)

You must have had a few people wondering what your hand was doing in your lap under the desk! :p

[Hoges]

I used to get a saw wrist until I got a wrist rest mine is a razer exactrest. I have it for about 8 years now. it works a treat.



Greg Norman got a "saw" wrist the other day...but he wasn't using a mouse... :eek::wasntme:

[bee utey]

You must have had a few people wondering what your hand was doing in your lap under the desk! :p
Har, har, and my job isn't in a cubicle farm so there.

[Judo]

Do a search for the Evoluent Mouse. It works in a vertical "handshake" sort of plane.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/09/823.jpg

I had bad RSI on my index finger (switched mouse hands for 2 or 3 months to let it get better) and then I came back to this. Mine is set up with one button to double click automatically, so no need for double clicking manually, which takes a lot of strain off the index finger (as you are using another button altogether with your 3rd finger - if that makes sense).

No problems since.

HTH
David

Edit: Just to say, it is as accurate as a normal mouse. Like Ron, I tried a trackball but it never really did it for me....
Any soreness I have is similar to this, so I bought one of these and it arrived this morning. I'm liking it so far. It's going to take no time at all to get use to and feels more comfortable.

[Ferret]

Do a search for the Evoluent Mouse. It works in a vertical "handshake" sort of plane.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/09/823.jpg



I went down this route about 8-9 months ago due to wrist and finger pain. A definite improvement in my condition since adopting this style of mouse.

In adapting I found I had to set up the middle button as the 'right' button and completely disable the bottom button to prevent unwanted right clicks being triggered by my fingers when moving the mouse.

[spudboy]

Any soreness I have is similar to this, so I bought one of these and it arrived this morning. I'm liking it so far. It's going to take no time at all to get use to and feels more comfortable.

That's good.

I've got mine set up as:
- top button = single left click
- middle button = right click
- bottom button = double click

Works well for my job (programming in Visual Studio & SQL Server).

[Judo]

That's good.

I've got mine set up as:
- top button = single left click
- middle button = right click
- bottom button = double click

Works well for my job (programming in Visual Studio & SQL Server).
I thought your job was spending millions on a camper truck build. :p

So far I like the default set up as I use middle click a lot in browsers. Cool idea being able to set a double click button tho.

[spudboy]

I thought your job was spending millions on a camper truck build. :p
.

Haha! - that's my children's inheritance going up in smoke! Cheaper than a Crack Heroin (Crack Cocaine??) habit .... or maybe not.....

[steveG]

Great to hear others are finding the Evoluent mice good. I've ordered one too - will hopefully be here tomorrow.

I'm also currently using a small roll of bubble-wrap in front of my keyboard as a wrist support for typing, and that seems to be easing things too. Easily adjustable for height (roll it up a bit more or less) and then a small bit of tape stops it unrolling. Leave the excess "tongue" sitting under the keyboard and it all stays nicely in place...

Steve

[steveG]

The mouse arrived yesterday afternoon so have been using it at home today.

Initially feels more comfortable than a standard mouse but haven't used it for an extended period yet. Its also set up a lot "faster" out of the box than a standard mouse is, so I'm still getting used to that and my accuracy is down a bit as a result.

It has a nice blue light on the back too :)

Steve

[VladTepes]

You should be able to adjust the sensitivity quite easily via Windows.

(or some mouses, on the mouse itself, or mouse software drivers if it came with some)

[Ferret]

The speed sensitivity is adjusted on the Evolute mouse itself. Look for the button labeled 'Pointer Speed' adjacent to the middle mouse button.