Has switching over to a Mechanical KB ever solve a person's RSI / Carpal issue?

[Kamen Rider Blade]

I've never really encountered RSI / Carpal Tunnel Syndrome since I normally use a MS Natural Ergonomic KB 4000 for typing.

However since alot of people seem to love the switch from Rubber Dome to one of the many Mechanical KB types, does switching over help with a person's RSI / Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

I'm curious about this issue since I've heard on several forums that it helps, but I've always thought alot of the RSI / Carpal Tunnel can be solved by adjusting the angling of your wrists relative to your forearm.

Any thoughts?

[daerid]

I wouldn't say I have full blown RSI or CTS, but I used MS Ergo keyboards for years, switched to a Das Keyboard, and then when I switched back to the MS Ergo boards, my right wrist started developing stiffness/pain.

Switching back to a Mechanical board fixed me right up. I've stayed off those things ever since.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Ironically I've only ever had nerve-type trouble with my hands SINCE moving from nasty rubberdomes to Cherry MX. I got really sore hands from a scissor switch, but that seemed to be excessive force due to the low travel. My hands still play up every week or two — using my Topre Realforce seemed to help.

[archer]

I've never read any research anywhere that supports the idea that a mech keyboard helps reduce RSI, but it definitely has helped my gf out. Since switching to mech, she doesn't have any pain at all after typing at an office job for 8+ hours per day, like she used to when she used a microsoft ergo 2000 keyboard (or some version similar to that).

[heedpantsnow]

So you're trying to get your work HR department to buy you a mech? 

[Shikarikato]

I kind of have Carpal in my right hand probably from using a mouse + terrible writing habits. While using a RD doesn't cause me any pain, I feel more at ease when I use a mechanical.

[heedpantsnow]

I kind of have Carpal in my right hand probably from using a mouse + terrible writing habits. While using a RD doesn't cause me any pain, I feel more at ease when I use a mechanical.

Aw, man, that sucks.  I hope you're able to get it taken care of.  Have you started braces yet?

[dorkvader]

one big difference, independent of layout is that mechanical keyboards don't require you to bottom out. This may or may not help your specific situation though. I'd consult a doctor if you are having issues.

[aref]

I had carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists and the only solution was surgery. I went to a hand-surgery specialist and the results were 100% free from pain. I tried various remedies, different keyboards, and naturopathy prior to surgery, none of which worked. Some people get a cortisone injection, which reduces swelling, and never need surgery. My surgeon suggested I try it, which I did, but my pain returned two months after the injection. I know the question wasn't whether or not one should undergo surgery; however, from my experience, the best thing to do is find a qualified surgeon who specializes in hand surgery and have done with it.

[WRXChris]

I used to run a small business and I frequently spent 12 hour days on my PC. I started developing wrist pain and numbness when using a rubber dome on marathon work days, and my wrists bothered me 24/7. I had been interested in mech kbs for a while but this was the straw that broke the camel's back. I bought an mx brown filco, and the pain and numbness quickly disappeared and never came back!

[Shikarikato]

I kind of have Carpal in my right hand probably from using a mouse + terrible writing habits. While using a RD doesn't cause me any pain, I feel more at ease when I use a mechanical.

Aw, man, that sucks.  I hope you're able to get it taken care of.  Have you started braces yet?

A wrist brace? I haven't tried one, but it's probably a good idea.
It's not super serious so I haven't bothered to do much to get it fixed, but I should probably try to work more ergonomically to prevent the further development of it.

[kfmfe04]

Years ago, I had a coworker who bought a Kinesis Advantage for his RSI issues - seemed to work great for him.

For me, I recently realized how bad the ergonomics are for a laptop. 

After getting a hhkb, I began typing from my lap with the laptop on the desk at a distance, many of my wrist and shoulder problems went away, and there is no neck strain, even after many hours of coding.

[SamirD]

Great topic, and I have some stuff to add, so sorry for the bump.

My brother had carpel tunnel release surgery in 11th grade of high school.  We think a major contributor to this was using a Keytronic keyboard with a protective 'keyboard skin' on it.  The skin changed the feel of the keys causing a sharp increase in force near the actuation point.  My hands would also hurt, but not as bad.

Fast forward about a year and it was getting worse and my brother was needing surgery on his other hand as well.  We had an IBM 30-286 that had an IBM M on it (still have the computer and keyboard in storage), and when typing on the M, both our hands felt completely normal again.  We realized that an M was the only way to go.  We spec'd an M for our next system build and pulled the keyboard skin off the Keytronic.

I exclusively use Ms and have now for better part of 10 years.  My brother switched to the Microsoft natural keyboard series and went through a couple before moving onto to primarily touchscreens now.

I think our experience shows that if you're using a keyboard that's hurting you after time on it, you are headed towards rsi.  If another keyboard, mech or otherwise, solves the issue, then the keyboard is the solution.

[TopreFan333]

Years ago, I had a coworker who bought a Kinesis Advantage for his RSI issues - seemed to work great for him.

For me, I recently realized how bad the ergonomics are for a laptop. 

After getting a hhkb, I began typing from my lap with the laptop on the desk at a distance, many of my wrist and shoulder problems went away, and there is no neck strain, even after many hours of coding.

I would also recommend trying elevating the laptop if you haven't, just to get it up near eye level. I think I'm going to try that keyboard in the lap thing when I'm just typing -- the HHKB is a good form-factor for a lap

[SamirD]

Using a laptop keyboard in my lap for any real typing or a continued session always results in wrist pain.

I always have to put it up somewhere and type in a way that I don't feel strained, or I just bust out the M and attach it.

[tararais]

I used to type several hours a day for work/essays, back when I used an MX switch, and eventually got some pretty sharp wrist pain. Learning to keep my wrists above the keyboard (floating?) helped me out a lot, so I have my keyboard on the edge of my desk (atop a laptop), and keep my elbows on the chair armrests (which are about 15 cm below my board).

[JiveMasterT]

I was using an Apple aluminum keyboard for years and constantly battling RSI and pain in my finger tips.  I tried replacing that keyboard with a new one and it helped for a bit but eventually the pain came back.  I read that bottoming out the keys might be part of the cause of my issues so I picked up a Das keyboard with Cherry MX Browns.

That was several years ago and now I am mostly pain free.  I do get the occasional flareup when I've been working on my laptop on the couch or have to use other people's keyboards for extended periods of time.  If I'm doing a lot of work with the mouse I try to make sure I'm wearing wrist braces too.

A lot of people thumb their noses at the MX Browns but I think they are awesome if you're dealing with pain.  Swapping out your keyboard is certainly worth trying if it's a concern.

[SamirD]

Swapping out your keyboard is certainly worth trying if it's a concern.

I think this is the best takeaway from this thread--while a different keyboard may not cure an existing rsi issue, it seems that the right keyboard for your hands can reduce the strain dramatically and if you don't already have an rsi issue, possibly prevent it altogether.

[NewbieOneKenobi]

Not sure. I have a constant bad case of inflammation and whatever, really, really bad pain, but at the same time so habitual that I mostly ignore it or confuse its consequences, which include nausaea, with symptoms of something else. Cherry blues aren't exactly a balm on my wounds or even a walk in the park, but they are probably lighter on my fingers in the end than rubber domes, including scissors. Doesn't change the fact I just can't use a non-mech keyboard (too awfully wobbly, dead-tyre yucky etc.), and the way the mech-board hobby started for me was because of the RSI/CTS to begin with. I was simply no longer able to manage on a normal Logitech or a scissors board.

I'll think I'll be in for browns or reds soon.

[SamirD]

Not sure. I have a constant bad case of inflammation and whatever, really, really bad pain, but at the same time so habitual that I mostly ignore it or confuse its consequences, which include nausaea, with symptoms of something else. Cherry blues aren't exactly a balm on my wounds or even a walk in the park, but they are probably lighter on my fingers in the end than rubber domes, including scissors. Doesn't change the fact I just can't use a non-mech keyboard (too awfully wobbly, dead-tyre yucky etc.), and the way the mech-board hobby started for me was because of the RSI/CTS to begin with. I was simply no longer able to manage on a normal Logitech or a scissors board.

I'll think I'll be in for browns or reds soon.

I think you should definitely try every board you can get your hands on until you find the switch that helps.  Then you can just search for the perfect layout/size.  I hope you find it soon too because that's the type of pain my brother was in right before he had to have carpel tunnel release surgery.

[localredhead]

I do think that a mechanical keyboard *can* provide relief for RSI symptoms.

I'm a software engineer and my wrists have been hurting for years.  I even purchased 2 kinesis's - and I did not find relief with them.

I started using a typematrix which helped a little..

Then I got a KBV60 and my wrist pain has diminished a lot.  I had a lot of worries about it thinking it would make things worse - but in the end I think the tactility of the switch helped me to keep my hands in the proper typing position which in turn helped me stop resting my wrists constantly.  I still rest my wrists, but I don't feel pain.

[Macsmasher]

It's not an issue of 'mechanical' vs membrane keyboards, but rather what allows you to get your work done with the least amount of damage. I was using a Das keyboard with mx browns for a couple of years. I was having aching finger joints at the end of the day because of the hard landing. I switched to Topre and haven't had a problem since. That was 3+ years ago. Topre has a soft landing when bottoming out.

So what you're looking for is an input device (i.e. a keyboard) that will allow you to perform your work with the least amount of damage. Nobody can tell you what that is. For some, it's a buckling spring keyboard. For some, it's Cherry MX. For me, it was Topre switches.

A membrane keyboard feels fine when it's new. But in a few months, the plungers wear and you have to hammer the keys and you don't even realize you're doing it. All a 'mechanical' keyboard gives you is longevity so that doesn't happen.

[SamirD]

Nobody can tell you what that is. For some, it's a buckling spring keyboard. For some, it's Cherry MX. For me, it was Topre switches.

Great words. 

I hope people googling for information on rsi and keyboards run across this thread--lots of great info!