Should I buy a wrist/palm rest*?

[sam113101]

Six months ago, I wasn't a touch typist. I didn't have any problem with my wrists too. Since I'm a touch typist and since I'm typing a lot of text (blog entries, programming, etc…), my wrists began to hurt.

I was just wondering if the filco palm rest (yes, they call it a palm rest) is like any other and cheaper wrist rest, or is it a SUPER PALM REST (if so, please tell me why).

Because I'm planning to buy a filco keyboard, and I would buy both at the same time.

Also, am I the only one who thinks that wrist pain is a touch typing thing*?

[Zevus]

i've been a touch typist for 20+ years and have never had any issues w/ my wrist.  i do have problem with joint/finger pain which is probably just about inevitable w/ heavy typing for so many years.

you shouldn't be having any troubles with your wrist, esp if you're under 30.  a wrist rest might or might not help.   whatever you have going on now is probably due to a bed keyboard/desk/chair setup..

[J888www]

I recently purchased four of these in Green, if you reside in UK, they are very cheap, but they serve the intended purpose well, additional item is extra £0.99p. Allsop Keyboard wrist rest.

[itlnstln]

I use a wrist rest all the time.  Supposedly, I do it wrong and leave my wrists on the rest while I type, but I think as long as what you do is comfortable and not causing you pain, do whatever you want.  I have the Filco rest, and it's pretty nice.

[paardvark]

Pshh. Wrist rests are for sissies. I just get a couple books and put em in front of my keyboard.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

I'm using a Fellowes Memory foam one and it provides great wrist support.

[washuai]

Yes, check your form first.  Correct wrist rest is about height, material and what you're doing wrong, etc.  So The Filco isn't per se instantly better or worse than other wrist rests.  The thing that the Filco wrist rest is going to do is match the length of your board and look fancy, unless Filco makes you think of gas stations or truck refrigeration, etc.

I only use wrist rests with some mice/trackballs.  When it comes to keyboards, I hover and sometimes wrest my elbow on arm rests.

[itlnstln]

Yes, check your form first.  Correct wrist rest is about height, material and what you're doing wrong, etc.  So The Filco isn't per se instantly better or worse than other wrist rests.  The thing that the Filco wrist rest is going to do is match the length of your board and look fancy, unless Filco makes you think of gas stations or truck refrigeration, etc.

Good point.  I like my rests to be exactly as high as the front lip of the keyboard.  The Filco and the "thick mousepad" types work perfectly for me.

[didjamatic]

Pshh. Wrist rests are for sissies. I just get a couple books and put em in front of my keyboard.

So are you saying that good wrist rests are for sissies but crappy wrist rests are for non-sissies?  ;p

I've been considering one as well.  My RSI is getting really bad and I think a rest might help.

[hyperlinked]

Well, if sam's profile age is correct, he/she(?) isn't likely to need to worry about RSI for a good number of years unless we're talking about 16 hour days of speed typing. I don't think a palm rest is a priority at this point.

I agree with Washuai. Sam would be best off just learning proper typing mechanics for now. A wrist rest at this stage may impede development of proper mechanics. Once you start developing pain, then these devices might be more useful because they are all crutches of one form or another.

They also aren't universally helpful. Palm rests are disatrous for me because my RSI is wrist tendinitis. Putting my hands on a palm rest causes my tendons to be under constant tension of holding my arms up. Wrist tendinitis is not carpal tunnel by the way. Sometimes you see it with carpal tunnel, but they're different things. A palm rest that's designed to keep your wrists in a more neutral position might be helpful for someone who's developing symptoms of carpal tunnel without having symptoms of tendinitis.

Let's repeat something here. Wrist rests can be bad for you. It depends on what you're dealing with. They can also be good for you. If you're unable to get your symptoms to go away without them.

[hyperlinked]

BTW, is it just me, or does anyone else feel like Sam's avatar is staring at you? I have to scroll sam's messages off the screen.

[hyperlinked]

Ripster, I hope you're thinking about your son's future and not yours.

[pex]

hyperlink qq'd
you heard it here first
qq++.

the post that existed here is now a limited edition

[hyperlinked]

I think pex just landed on a bunch of ignore lists in one post. Nice work.

[pex]

I think pex just landed on a bunch of ignore lists in one post. Nice work.

Dandy work, pex.

[sam113101]

What did he say*?
I must know D;

[washuai]

For those whom inquire.

hyperlink qq'd
you heard it here first
qq++.

the post that existed here is now a limited edition

http://www.avert.org/age-of-consent.htm

I've no idea how accurate or up-to-date that information is.

So wrist rest decision is?

[sam113101]

in Canada, you can have sex at 14 or 15 if the age difference is less than 5
at 16 you're almost free, there is that law that forbids buttsex for the people under 18

my keyboard is on the same level as my monitors, it's not very comfortable

[Zevus]

you shouldn't "need" to use a wrist rest.  if you're ~16, even if you've been typing 100wpm since you were 10 that'd be way too early to be developing problems.  

i dunno what those filco palm rests sell for, but as i recall it was a decent chunk.  the only time i've ever even tried a wrist rest is when i would type at someone else's computer.  for me, it actually caused discomfort.  

i'm not saying that one wouldn't help, but it'd probably be better to adjust chair height (or a new computer table, whatever) & keyboard angle first...  

or if you must, "requisition" one from your workplace or school for a few days and see how it goes.

[sam113101]

should I have armrests*?

[hyperlinked]

should I have armrests*?

On most chairs, arm rests are bad because they're designed to make you lazy. On high end chairs, the arm rests are extremely mobile and can be adjusted so that they're available when you need them and slide away when you don't.

Right now, you should be working on developing good habits. Learning to live without armrests might be better for now. You'll have a more proper appreciation for lenient use of armrests later on when you're old and creaky.

[typo]

you should always "float" your wrists when using any input device. be it a mouse,trackball or keyboard. you can rather quickly sustain serious injury from pressure applied to your wrists. if you must use bad posture, rest your elbos on the armrests.
that brings us to seating position. too many people incure office injuries due to improper posture,alignment and technique.

of course i have typed 10 hours a day for decades. it is never too early for you to start  with good safe practices in the workplace. if, on the other hand you are just a kid using the internet, get a wrist rest if you want one. it is not untill you are logging many hours at a workstation that ergonomics becames a very serious issue. i have actually been required to attend several courses regarding this by my employers. in the us there is an organization known as "osha" that has requirements of employers and employees as to how they perform their job duties.

if you use input devices rather casually i would not worry about all this then. on the other hand kids have sustained serious injury logging many hours on gaming devices.
so proper usage of any "tool" is always advisable.

[hyperlinked]

it is not untill you are logging many hours at a workstation that ergonomics becames a very serious issue... if you use input devices rather casually i would not worry about all this then. on the other hand kids have sustained serious injury logging many hours on gaming devices.

Typo provided some really good advice in his post. He was really paying attention during those ergonomics seminars.

I just wanted to note that Sam mentioned that he is already having wrist pain from doing a lot of typing, but for someone who's 16, it's likely that whatever is causing the pain is at an early enough stage that good mechanics should be all he needs.

We also have to remember that pain and soreness alone are not a good indicator of a problem. A lot of people get sore backs and necks when they sit upright with good posture. This isn't because good posture is bad for you, but it's because their muscles aren't used to holding their body up and aren't strong enough to sustain good posture. You have to work at it.

It's entirely possible that by practicing good mechanics, you'll have to deal with a sore neck or upper back for a few weeks while you build up strength.

[typo]

thanks. what you added is completely true as well, hyperlinked.

never too early to start! in fact if you start now you may avoid a life of pain. i do not mean to scare anyone but this seems trivial. it is not!
posture,mechanics are to be taken seriously. i have seen people in their 50's and 60's that are honestly crippled because they did not take note of this. going to a pain dr. to get horse shots every week i imagine is not fun. actually needing dope is even worse than using it recreationally i hear!

[Rajagra]

Six months ago, I wasn't a touch typist. I didn't have any problem with my wrists too. Since I'm a touch typist and since I'm typing a lot of text (blog entries, programming, etc…), my wrists began to hurt.

I had a couple of twinges when I learned to touch type. I think it was partly due to learning new movements, but mostly because I was tense. Once I learned to type without trying, the pain went away.

I have a wrist rest, but try not to put any weight on it while typing. I do make light contact, but more as a way to keep my hands in the perfect position rather than supporting my arms.

P.S. I still think the perfect rest would be like this, with the fleshy thumb muscle resting rather than the bony part of the wrist. Maybe some more on the sides to mould to the shape of the palm, but at a lower level so the weight stays on the thumb muscle.

BTW, is it just me, or does anyone else feel like Sam's avatar is staring at you? I have to scroll sam's messages off the screen.

I never have that problem with muchadoaboutnothing's avatar.
You may have found a way to make ignore lists that work in reverse (just choose an avatar that freaks out the person you want to deter.)

[Rajagra]

BTW, is it just me, or does anyone else feel like Sam's avatar is staring at you? I have to scroll sam's messages off the screen.

I never have that problem with muchadoaboutnothing's avatar.
You may have found a way to make ignore lists that work in reverse (just choose an avatar that freaks out the person you want to deter.)

[typo]

rajagra, what is that wrist rest? it looks like a brick of "florist foam".

i do have a $5 office depot rest in front of my das that i am using but i don't even get my wrists close to it. it's there so the darn cat stops pulling the keyboard off the desk! it's glued to the table.

i palm my mouse loosely and do not rest on the mousepad. claw grips can cause you a problem with larger mice. i am using a g500. actually i was going to pull out the mx518 i remember it being a lot more comfortable. the side to side wheel on the g mice can cause problems in your fingers. i don't use it. i just thought i'd add something about mice.

[gr1m]

Acually, going from my G15 v2 with a wrist-wrest to my rather tall 6Gv2 (much taller than a G15, keycaps and all) without a wrist-wrest was a very good move. I can't stand wrist-wrests now.

[Rajagra]

rajagra, what is that wrist rest? it looks like a brick of "florist foam".

No, it's a rather nice wooden one topped with leather made by a fellow geekhacker, but I 'shopped the picture to make it look shorter. (It's the width of that keyboard in reality.) It's certainly too nice for me to take a saw to, though I will probably make one to test the theory sometime.

[itlnstln]

No, it's a rather nice wooden one topped with leather made by a fellow geekhacker,

Lam?  I was looking forward to buying one of those before he left.  I hope he's doing well.  I'll have to drop him a line today.