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Carpal Tunnel- Laptops Better than Ergo Keyboards?
An anonymous reader asks: "I have chronic tendonitis in my wrists (I think of it as incipient carpal tunnel syndrome). I shied away from laptops for years, thinking the cramped keyboard would aggravate my condition. About six months ago, circumstances forced me to break down and get a laptop. I didn't have any major problems with the keyboard - it's only now that I've switched back to a wireless mouse and an ergonomic keyboard that I've started to have any pain. Amazingly, the laptop is more comfortable for me to use long term. Has anyone had a similar experience? What's the explanation? Is it the shorter stroke depth on the keys? The fact that you can put your hands closer together than on a standard keyboard?"
CTS not caused by keyboards
I have been pwned because my
It may just be that you are in a more relaxed posture when using a laptop. Some serious misconceptions here, though:
- placing your hands closer together does NOT help since it increases muscle tension to hold this unnatural position - one of the best keyboards out there is the Maltron, which separates the hands by at least 6-8 inches.
- having the screen attached to the laptop is also a bad idea since the neck must be held in a bent position
The first thing I advise people who have RSI (who typically use laptops) is to get a full-size monitor and keyboard where possible to plug into the laptop.
Whatever your beliefs, please just google for 'ergonomic workstation setup' to see pictures of a good ergonomic setup. Getting RSI/carpal tunnel is no fun.
You should use wrist rests only when you're not typing. You have nerves and blood vessels very close to the skin on your wrists and they should not be compressed while you're typing.