The richest range of alternative manipulators is available today among vertical mice. But there are still significantly fewer trackballs and trackpads. But in general, there is clearly visible trend towards increasing attention to the health of people working at computers. Therefore, there will probably only be more such accessories.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome? Mouse is convenient, is it really necessary to reinvent the wheel?

An ordinary mouse is familiar, often accessible, extremely understandable, and very easy-to-use manipulator. There are both symmetrical variations and models for left-handers, and various other ergonomic features, such as a perforated case. And the set of additional functions and capabilities can satisfy even the most demanding user.

But with prolonged use of the mouse, as well as the not entirely correct position of the hand relative to the forearm, over time certain diseases cannot be ruled out, which are already called professional for programmers, e-sportsmen, office workers, in general, everyone who works on PC every day. First of all, we are talking about carpal joint syndrome, also known as carpal tunnel or simply carpal tunnel.

What kind of pathology is this? This is neurological disease in which the nerve in the carpal tunnel is compressed. In connection with it, there are complaints of pain in the hand and / or numbness of the fingers. Other signs of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

  • burning or tingling sensation in the hand;
  • impaired finger mobility;
  • hand weakness.

Thus, there are studies according to which every sixth worker who spends the whole day at PC is diagnosed with carpal joint syndrome. In this case, the main reason is considered to be the position of the hand and mouse in relation to the forearm - strong extension (more than 20%), bending or turning to the left or right. It is precisely because of this that the likelihood of pinched nerve in the wrist and the appearance of painful symptoms increases.

The picture shows which wrist position is only undesirable for the user.

Working with regular mouse for long time can also lead to other problems with the wrist, such as tendonitis, which is inflammation of the tendons that are located in this part of the hand.

Popular Computer Mice

What to do if wrist hurts because of computer mouse?

The best prevention against wrist diseases for those who work at PC are considered to be various exercises - simple gymnastics for the hands. As a rule, it is enough to take break every few hours and do special warm-up, namely:

  • clench and unclench fists;
  • make rotational movements with the wrists in different directions;
  • join hands in lock and move fingers;
  • put your palms together and also perform different gestures;
  • shake your fingers, connect your thumb and forefinger, etc.
Very simple exercises reduce the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, but it is important to do them regularly.

Warm compresses, massages, and medical splints can also be used to fix the wrist joint. And with advanced pathology, you cannot do without medications or even surgical intervention.

Since prevention and treatment require certain consistency and self-discipline, it is often much easier and more expedient to abandon the “main tool of labor” of PC user in favor of alternative manipulators. It can be vertical mouse, trackpad or trackball. All of them are united by the absence of an unwanted bend in the wrist during operation, which is fraught with pinched nerves. Let's take a look at the features, pros and cons of each option.

Vertical mouse

Probably the best mouse for carpal tunnel is the vertical arm. Already from the name it is clear that here the working surface (two main buttons and wheel) is rotated 90 degrees. In other words, they are located not horizontally, like classic models, but vertically. As a result, while working at PC, your hand is in position as if you were extending it for handshake. And we all hold a pencil or an ice cream cone in almost the same position.

The position of the wrist with vertical mouse eliminates the pinching of the nerve.

Such mice, which do not cause pain in the hand, are old-timers in the market of manipulators, that is, they have been produced for quite long time. One of the most popular models is the Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse, which can hardly be called budget one. But let's say the Trust brand really has lot of options to choose from with nice price tags.

Pros of vertical mice:

  • effective prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome;
  • decent assortment in different price categories and with variable functions, including, for example, backlighting or programmable buttons ;
  • fast adaptation. The principles of operation do not change - there will definitely not be confusion with pressing, because in fact everything remains the same as with regular mouse, only the wrist is transferred to vertical plane.

Cons of vertical models:

  • small selection of variations for left-handers;
  • for correct operation (especially at the stage of getting used to), large flat work surface is required - room for movements with the whole hand;
  • not the best choice for games, especially shooting games (although some users, on the contrary, note convenience in shooters);
  • because of the high height, it is easier to accidentally hit the mouse and throw it on the floor.
The ease of use of vertical mouse directly depends on how well the thumb fits.

Who is the vertical mouse suitable for? Here we are not talking about those who want to avoid tunnel syndrome (which is obvious), but about the most preferred application scenarios. The vertical model is good choice for office workers, copywriters, editors and other professionals who perform variety of tasks (typing and copying text, surfing the net, etc.). For gamers, such manipulator is not very suitable, although if you have large table, you can perform fast and accurate movements (at least gamers should try out such model in practice). For graphic designers, there will be almost no difference between vertical and horizontal mouse.

Vertical Mice

Trackball

The next alternative to regular mouse, which does not hurt the wrist and hand, is the trackball. Here, special ball is used to control the cursor, which must be rotated with your finger in the required direction. In fact, this is an inverted ball mouse (if you are from the category of users who have found such manipulators). Although here, of course, optics is responsible for the movement of the sphere.

The classic trackball is equally suitable for right-handers and left-handers.

Unlike regular manipulators, the trackball does not need to be moved across the table. In fact, all the work is done with the fingers. Accordingly, the operation of the device eliminates the movement of the shoulder and forearm, which reduces fatigue during long sessions and can minimize the risks of carpal tunnel syndrome.

It is worth noting that on sale there are both symmetrical trackballs, like the Kensington SlimBlade Trackball, and models combined with regular mice - the ball is located on the side - for operation with the thumb, like the Logitech ERGO M575 Wireless Trackball. The latter can simplify and speed up getting used to fundamentally new way of interacting with PC. In general, the range of trackballs is not very large.

Pros:

  • reduces hand fatigue during prolonged work;
  • do not require lot of space on the table;
  • are able to provide both high accuracy and speed of cursor movement;
  • the presence of combined devices - regular mouse + trackball.

Cons:

  • small assortment, especially among the combined models for left-handers;
  • it will take long time to get used to using it (if it is not hybrid solution combined with mouse);
  • drawing straight lines with ball is even more difficult than with regular manipulator;
  • You can bend your hand incorrectly even here, that is, there is no 100% guarantee of protection against carpal tunnel syndrome;
  • in combined models, the load on the thumb greatly increases, which with prolonged use is fraught with the development of arthrosis.
It will be faster to master hybrid trackball, but the load on the thumb is great.

Who is the trackball suitable for? First of all, graphic editors, those who are engaged in 3D modeling and work with software in which precise positioning is important. If they are willing to adapt, they can interest developers and those who work with text. There is an opinion that these devices are not suitable for games. But this is controversial claim. The trackball allows you to move the cursor very quickly over long distances, and experienced gamers believe that this feature can be competitive advantage. If you are ready to learn, then you should try these manipulators in games.

Trackpad

Another alternative pointing device is trackpad, touchpad that allows you to move the cursor with your fingers. There are also buttons for clicking or various interaction options are supported - tapping, multi-finger touches, swipes, gestures. An external trackpad is essentially the same as touchpad on a laptop.

Like the trackball, this pointing device does not need to be moved, meaning no forearm work is required. The second ergonomic point is its small thickness (and sometimes even slight tilt), thanks to which the wrist occupies comfortable position without extreme bends in the joint, which is designed to reduce the risks of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, if the table is too high or low, or the trackpad is used on the knees, then the position of the hand will probably still be incorrect.

The trackpad minimizes the strain on the hand if the table is at the optimal height and the hand does not hang down.

The market leader in these devices is Apple, which offers three generations of “magic” models with support for gesture control, including Magic Trackpad 3.

  • Trackpad Pros:
  • reduces hand fatigue during long-term work;
  • suitable for use on any surface;
  • Quite quick to learn, especially if you are familiar with laptop touchpad;
  • Wide functionality in tandem with iMac ;
  • Convenient for photo processing and basic drawing.

Trackpad Cons:

  • small general assortment;
  • inferior to graphics tablets in functionality;
  • traditionally performs worse than other manipulators when performing pinch-and-drag operations.

Who is the trackpad suitable for? For example, graphic designers, those who process photographs and interact with various professional software. It’s definitely not very convenient to play here, nor, for example, to work with texts.

The trackpad is not necessarily replacement; it will be good addition to the mouse.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the most universal manipulator to replace regular mouse has not yet been invented. It is no coincidence that the “classic” remains in demand, despite the fact that more than 40 years have passed since its invention.

The alternative solutions available today are not without weaknesses, which are especially noticeable in certain application scenarios. But to avoid pain in the hand, prevent or reduce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, you can combine different manipulators described in this article. For example, trackpads have proven themselves to be excellent for photo retouching, vertical mouse is convenient for everyday work, and, for example, trackballs are suitable for some games or for 3D modeling. Plus, any of the listed devices can be used in tandem with the “classics”.