Mech keys better for wrist?

[Snow_Fox]

I have just been wondering if anyone out there actually felt there was a tangible benefit from a mechanical keyboard other than preference?

Hard to explain where I am going here but, do you think mechs may be better for preventing carpel tunnel or be better for your hands/ wrist than a rubber dome board?

I suppose I am asking if anyone noticed a sort of tension in their wrist while using a dome and if it got better after switching to a mech..

[theferenc]

Not my wrists, but definitely in the joints of my fingers. Rubber domes, especially short throw switches, caused me serious grief in my finger joints, due to the shock of bottoming out.

Now that I mostly use buckling spring and topre boards, I am able to avoid bottoming out nearly as often, and the end result is less pain in my hands.

As far as wrist pain goes, I think that's more in how you hold your hands, rather than the actual typing. I know my left wrist hurts a lot more than my right wrist ever does...but that's also the arm my cat sleeps on a lot while I'm working.

[msiegel]

a tension in the wrist while using a dome which got better after switching to a mech

+1

between mech and tenkeyless my wrists feel much better.

crappy domes are just so infuriating, as well

[Snow_Fox]

I know there is definitely some tension. Although I'm saying wrist it is more right behind my knuckles I suppose. My wrist occassionally.
Its not that it "bothers" me actively while typing..

But, there is a definite frusteration when typing.. I guess in part its the crappy sound that is closer to rattling than anything else mixed in with the way the domes give no real feedback what so ever that after more than a few minutes of typing I find myself increasingly aware of the fact that my keyboard sucks.

Then again, I've used the crap out of it too.. the rubber domes I think are meant for much more casual use of the computer than what I actually do...

*edit* And the wrist pain isn't as constant but, anytime I spend more time typing its more likely to happen.  Then again, I suppose my over all logic is different keyboards could alter typing style to begin with.

[hoggy]

Consider making an appointment with your doctor.

Change one thing at a time - changing everything at once can be frustrating.

There are plenty of things to try out before resorting to spending lots of money on a board, but if you think it'll help, it probably will.

Take a look at how you hold your wrists - they shouldn't be resting on the desk when you type for example - ideally get someone you think should know these things and ask them to take a look at you when you're typing.

If it's your right (or mouse) wrist, then consider changing the mouse first.  (you do say wrist, rather than wrists).  A vertical mouse might be worth looking at.

Try to chill out and relax, I'm convinced (but possibly wrong) that tension really doesn't help with these things.  

That said - take a look at the kinesis advantage keyboard (http://www.kinesis-ergo.com) - not cheap - but really worked for me.

[Lanx]

like many have said begin examination.
first how is the work area, are we talking about a cruddy setup where your in a wooden kitchen chair type deal?
are you straining your arms all the way out to type?

One thing to note is that over the years, one type of ergonomics just does not fit with another, because we all have different body types and levels of adjustment, as such we can only follow very broad advice to give.

i would start at the work area, are you comfortable, does back pain come into play, as stupid as it sounds back pain can lead to wrist pain, mainly cuz if your "core" is wrong then that could eminate further to your wrists and stuff.

we'll just assume that you have or will have a nice "body" torso and the screen is perfectly viewable so your not squinting or going "wtf is that" and you gotta nudge your neck in and crane to see something.
So lets talk about shoulders, are your shoulds sloutched or are your arms extended in such a wierd way that you could do a michael phelps front stroke?
or is your keyboard height and your shoulder elbow height so messed up your arms look end up looking like a T-rex arms in their resting position?
then look at your wrist placement does it hurt to when your giving a thumbs up and then twisting it to give a thumbs down? (think roman gladiator caesar)

then look at how your wrists are bent, are they relaxed or in a postion like how you push a grocery?

now we can examine if mech keyboards help, in most tests membrane keyboards take 70g of force to push down while what many will consider the ergnomic switch (cherry brown) takes 45g of force to push down.

personally i don't think it will alleviate everyones pain, i find it more enjoyable and isn't another checkmark one should take towards lessened rsi/cts.