Has anyone developed problems from using a mouse/keyboard wrist rest?

[Stupidface]

I have always been taught it was a complete no-no to rest your wrists on anything whilst typing/mousing.  And yet, Internet marketplaces are filled with people offering mouse/keyboard wrist rests.

Is it the case that wrist rests are a good idea, and it all comes down to being careful when making use of them?

[Gorbon]

When I first started using computers, I was using one of these mouse wrist rests for a few years, thinking that it would be more ergonomic. I was very wrong.



Perhaps I wasn't using it properly, perhaps my desk was too high, but in any case I developed discomfort in my right wrist, which progressed into acute pain whenever I stretched my wrist backwards. I got rid of the wrist rest, but the pain wouldn't go away.

Eventually, and even though I'm right-handed, I moved the mouse to the left side (I still have it there) and the pain progressively dissipated. It took many months though, perhaps more than a year.

Getting used to left-hand mousing took a couple of weeks or so (it was very frustrating at first), but after that, I could use it equally well with both hands. Besides, due to the standard keyboard's asymmetry, the left side is closer to the center of the keyboard (even on a 60%) and it's a more ergonomic place for the mouse to be (at least for me).

Nowadays, I do extensible use of keyboard shortcuts (vimium for browsing, layer mappings for text editing, etc.) and only use the mouse when necessary. I hadn't had any pain in my hands ever since.

[nevin]

it all depends on your posture, your desk setup and how you use your keyboard, mouse, etc...
i think a lot of times, things like wrist rests, etc. get blamed when the actual issue is bad human ergonomics (posture, position of keyboard/mouse related to the forearms/shoulders, desk/chair height, etc...). usually it's not one component that's to blame, usually it's your overall setup/posture.

- do some searching on "proper computer ergonomics". this should get you the basics without me regurgitating them here.
- evaluate your setup
- make some changes
- give it some time, you should start to see a difference, and begin to understand why these are the preferred positions/posture.

[skop]

That thing in the photo is kinda obviously terrible, locking your wrist in place, compressing the soft tissue in the under-arm, and to move the mouse you have to twist your hand from side to side. 

Variety of posture aside, some parts of the body are more natural pivot points than others.  The Kinesis Advantage does it pretty good, you rest on the heel of the hand and don't have to twist it to reach stuff, but also, you can spread the arms' weight over the expansive surface instead of concentrating the weight in one spot.

[JP911]

I think it really depends on posture you sit as well.

At my last job coding 8 hours a day, I would prefer not using a wrist rest on a standing desk. But sitting down lower I liked having a wrist wrest. This might also apply to the height of your chair too.

[ergo_typing]

I've always thought about wrist rests more as a place to rest the hands when pausing between typing. So when pausing to read what I've just typed looking for bugs I use them. Then as soon as I start typing again, I start floating my wrists again.

[granola bar enthusiast]

i sometimes take my wrist rest and just push it back so its supporting my arm and my wrist is floating so it's all straight.

i found using a wrist rest as advertised is kind of uncomfortable and i will never use a mouse wristrest in hell

[butre]

don't use one with a mouse, but if your posture is fine then using one with a keyboard isn't gonna hurt anything.

[marketwo]

I have been researching into the wrist rest and found this useful article.

https://taikohub.com/blogs/ergonomics/the-controversy-around-wrist-rests

You can read into the detailed explanation, but floating your wrists is ideal compared to resting your wrist on the wrist rest.

[desgeek]

I've never used it and never had a problem with my wrist

[MykB77]

I used computers extensively for engineering and programming for over 20 years.  I always used a memory foam floating wrist rest that moves with the mouse... it took me a couple of days to get used to not knocking it off my desk but it was the solution for me... always used ergo mice too... Logitech ergo molded to the hand ... a R.A.T. 9 wireless... etc currently Hero G502 SE.  The one thing I did find was that any wrist rest made with gel was bad long term. 

This is the one: (I have recently seen almost identical clones in dollar stores)
https://www.amazon.ca/Allsop-29538-Ergo-Wrist-Assist/dp/B000O77KKC/ref=asc_df_B000O77KKC/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=293004044609&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14657456815606580992&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001075&hvtargid=pla-401643674139&psc=1

There appears to be a modern equivalent that addresses carpal tunnel concerns:
https://deltahub.io/products/carpio-2

The fact it floats with the mouse means you aren't moving your wrist much... and it keeps your arm straighter in line with your chair arm rest.  Actually I found that the height of the arm rests really mattered... and also that if I cut a gel keyboard length wrist rest for a keyboard in half and attached it to the arm rests it was much more comfortable.  Gel worked for my elbows and not my wrist.

At any rate, I'm 50 in February and no carpal tunnel; I still use the foam ones.  I also play synth / piano... not sure if that helped.

Hopefully helpful info for someone.

[anawilliam850]

The use of wrist rests while typing or using a mouse is a bit of a controversial topic in ergonomics. Some experts believe that wrist rests can be beneficial for reducing strain on the wrist and hand muscles, while others believe that they can actually contribute to pain and discomfort.

One of the arguments for using wrist rests is that they can help to promote a neutral wrist position, which can reduce the risk of developing conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. A wrist rest can also help to support the wrist and keep it from bending too far up or down, which can reduce strain on the tendons and muscles in the hand.

[RitzyKraken]

I use wrist rests. But I feel like I use them more as heel-of-the-palm rests. I don’t put a lot of weight on it. Never had an issue.