Working from home equipment recommendations

[Tjay1978]

Hi everyone,

Can anyone recommend a decent mouse or ergonomic keyboard? Wrist has been aching me for a while so think it might be early onset of RSI. This working from home hasn't helped! So any recommendations? I have seen the following but not sure how good they are:

www.1stmobilityltd.com/product/penguin-ambidextrous-vertical-mouse

www.johnlewis.com/microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-black/p4811898?sku=238376019&s_ppc=2dx92700055381560003&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqfz6BRD8ARIsAIXQCf0odFR2M1XXUoGaSrefRM6_JWdTOkciVnNvrb1sNCsgJlxWUmTOsPgaAt4BEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Any ideas would be welcome.

Thank you.

I find a wrist rest for my mouse makes a big difference

Thanks parietal, which one do you use if you don't mind me asking?

bog standard one from Amazon. can't remember the brand or anything. With a fabric surface, not sticky plastic.

DH has RSI and also has voice-control on his computer to replace typing. And he uses a keyboard tray to keep the keyboard at a better height for typing.

I have an Anker vertical mouse, not very expensive, it has really helped my previously painful shoulder. It keeps your hand vertical so you’re not twisting through your lower arm. I highly recommend giving it a go.

I have the mouse you linked to and I like it but for some reason it’s a bit slow to get going if I’ve not been using it for a few minutes. It seems to need a second to wake up, and after that it’s fine. Hasn’t caused me any problems yet.

Check your chair and desk height - from someone who's given herself a bitch of a case of cubital tunnel syndrome from not doing this (think whacked your funny bone in an un-funny way feeling ALL the time). Foot rest has helped lift my whole body up in the chair a bit and protect my wrists a lot (and finally clear up the cubital tunnel)

I would second looking at your chair height. There are lots of guides to setting up your desk, monitor and chair, I found that initially when I adjusted everything to the correct height etc it felt quite uncomfortable, but I’ve got used to it now. In my office I have a sitting/standing desk, alternating between sitting and standing helps all my back, wrist and shoulder symptoms. The joys of aging.

I use that Microsoft keyboard at home, I have their wireless 'Sculpt' keyboard at work. I've had the ergo keyboard for over ten years now, and I still love it for its natural positioning. I don't get on with vertical mice though!

As others have said, your chair / desk / monitor height and layout is key.

Does your employer provide a self-guided DSE (display screen equipment) assessment or does it have Occ Health provision? Setting up your workstation properly might resolve the problem but if problems persist you'd be better describing the symptoms to Occ Health as they'll have experience of matching physical conditions to specialised equipment, rather than you picking random stuff off the internet.

My employer has just bought me a Razer mechanical keyboard - meant for gamers, but it's been a remarkable help for my arthritic joints.

I had a penguin shaped mouse very good.