Keyboard Suggestions for someone who has carpal tunnel

[spanyam]

A coworker who has no idea about mechanical keyboards, etc., is looking for a new "soft-touch" keyboard (in their words) because they're starting to get carpal tunnel. Now I'm aware that carpal tunnel has more to do with bad typing habits than keyboard type, but what's a good mech that can them help with the situation? The keyboard needs to be full-size, as they do use the numpad a lot.

The Ducky realforce taiwan edition (30g) is definitely an option, but I can't help but think that kind of money would be rather lost on a person who has no exposure to mechs. Another option I was considering is the basic Rosewill Full Size with MX Reds. Keep in mind this person has been pretty much on rubber domes the whole time.

What would be your suggestions? Thanks!

[trillobite]

All I can say is, after going to the AJAZZ AK33, my wrists and shoulders have been feeling much better. I would say that because mechanical switches don't require you to bottom out the switch, it really does help. In my experience, it seems that most beginners enjoy either the MX-blue or the MX-brown switches, as they tell the user when the switch has activated. In an office environment, I would recommend that your co-worker gets a brown switch. The goal is to train the person to stop bottoming out the switches, so a soft mellow tactile switch will be perfect.

My boss got an MX-Red keyboard, and he still bottoms out every key stroke, so I would suspect an MX-Brown would be the best choice for this situation.

Although, no mechanical keyboard can really help someone who is not typing properly...

[spanyam]

Thanks, I hadn't considered the issue of bottoming out before. I guess that indeed a brown switch would be best to avoid bottoming out. I'll definitely talk to them about good typing habits first, but a fullsize with mx browns or maybe matias quiet clicks sounds like a good option for an office environment.

[Rad]

Whichever switch has the highest actuation point and the least resistance.

[xtrafrood]

You might want to add a 30g 104 key Realforce (ducky 104ub, 104U Pro, etc.) to your list

Edit - Whoops, I see that you have. Comfort comes with a premium price

[trillobite]

Thanks, I hadn't considered the issue of bottoming out before. I guess that indeed a brown switch would be best to avoid bottoming out. I'll definitely talk to them about good typing habits first, but a fullsize with mx browns or maybe matias quiet clicks sounds like a good option for an office environment.

Could also buy a single switch of each tactile type, to demo to people. Most people get really excited once they feel what mechanical switches are like.

Whichever switch has the highest actuation point and the least resistance.

That is most likely true.

[spanyam]

Okay, thanks for the suggestions. I'll suggest a few options and see what they prefer.   

[jcoffin1981]

Typing position pays a big part in this.  It's easy to rest  your rest your wrist on your desk as you're typing, but that puts incredible stress on all the little carpal  bones, tendons, and hence nerves in the wrist.  Try to keep your forearm, wrist, and hand straight when you type.   When you learn how  to do this it becomes a habit. 

They make wrist rests, but they are not made for use when typing, they are made for resting your arms and wrists when you pause typing.

[zmka]

Consider that pronation of the wrist - when your palms are facing your desk - isn't a natural position.  You're kind of making an "X" with your ulna and radius bones in your forearms.  Not natural.  It's not really natural to type, and its not natural to remain in a single position for an extended period of time.  An ergonomic tower mouse, like an Evoluent vertical mouse, can be really helpful if he uses the mouse a lot because you pronate the wrist when you mouse.
Proper ergonomics can definitely help - a wrist rest, making sure the keyboard is at an appropriate height so the elbows are close to a 90-degree angle, maybe a keyboard tray, etc.
There are plenty of guides on workstation ergonomics online.  Physical therapy may help, so he should definitely seek assistance from a primary care physician if it gets too bad.  He might be able to get assistance from your employer's worker's comp if it gets serious.  But once these type of issues get serious, they often dog people for a long time and frequently require surgery or multiple surgeries.
I do ergonomic evaluations for people at work - we have thousands of employees here - and proper positioning helps people a lot.  He should mix up his tasks, too.  If he has filing to do, he should break up his time on the keyboard and do it in the middle of the day, or sporadically throughout the day rather than saving it until the end of the day - that type of thing.

[trillobite]

Typing position pays a big part in this.  It's easy to rest  your rest your wrist on your desk as you're typing, but that puts incredible stress on all the little carpal  bones, tendons, and hence nerves in the wrist.  Try to keep your forearm, wrist, and hand straight when you type.   When you learn how  to do this it becomes a habit. 

They make wrist rests, but they are not made for use when typing, they are made for resting your arms and wrists when you pause typing.

That was actually some really good info that I somehow missed (or forgot). I think I will even personally look around for a nice wrist wrest for my AK33. Glad this topic came up.

[childofthehorn]

A simple cheap, tall wrist rest may help considerably and get one for teh mouse as well. I use 60% KBs almost exclusively so I just get aa 17-19" tall wrist rest and then glide across for mouse usage.

http://smile.amazon.com/Grifiti-Standard-Keyboards-Mechanical-Materials/dp/B004D8PYE2/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g2243581662?_encoding=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&ie=UTF8