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Is a wrist rest for the keyboard good or bad? A keyboard wrist rest is good for you only if it promotes a proper and neutral typing posture. If the wrist rest hinders you in any way, it’s bad for you. Before buying a wrist rest for the keyboard, it’s best to address your overall sitting posture to promote better alignment when working.
Do your wrists experience pain or discomfort after long sessions of typing in front of a computer? Do they flare up when using a keyboard and a mouse?
Typing for many hours on the keyboard may cause pain in your wrists. Many office workers who need to sit in front of a computer have considered buying a wrist rest to help deal with their hand and wrist pain.
The question is using a wrist rest for the keyboard — good or bad? Is it the right choice? In this article, we will dive deeper into this issue.
Why Are Your Wrists in Pain?
Many are not aware of this, but the biggest reason why you are feeling pain in your wrists is mainly because of two things: your sitting posture and the way you use your keyboard.
It’s important to always maintain a neutral position when sitting and standing. The best typing position allows your wrists to remain straight while typing, keeping both feet firmly on the ground.
Being in a neutral position allows the muscles and tendons in your hands, wrists, and forearms to work in alignment while staying in a relaxed state, preventing unnecessary strain.
The most important thing to keep in mind when typing on a keyboard is, that you should be able to sit with your elbows close to the side of your body while keeping both your forearms and arms bent at a 90-degree angle.
This is a common pitfall for most computer users, as oftentimes the desk may be too high or too low.
Many have reported significant relief from hand and wrist pain after addressing their posture and changing the position of both their keyboard and mouse.
Do You Need a Wrist Rest?
Do you need a wrist rest for keyboard? The simple answer is, it depends on your personal preference and circumstances.
If you are able to work comfortably for long periods of time without pain and discomfort, then we don’t see a need for you to buy any additional accessories. Most of the time, changing your sitting posture will solve most problems.
However, you might need to consider a wrist rest if you are still in discomfort after addressing your posture. Typing without some kind of support will position your hands and wrists to wander around, and ultimately lead to bent wrists. Typing with bent wrists will create tension.
The main purpose of a wrist rest is to keep your wrists in a neutral position while working. If you are not able to adjust your workstation in any other way other than getting a wrist rest, then by all means, buy one. The best wrist rests not only offer superior support, but comes with an ergonomic mouse pad as well.
Keeping your arms neutral while maintaining your elbows at a 90-degree angle is important to ensure good typing ergonomics.
The Negatives of Wrist Rests
We can’t stress enough that it’s crucial to keep the proper wrist position, allowing your wrists to remain neutral and relaxed. Oftentimes, using wrist rests may make things worse for the user.
The biggest threat is if your wrists bend ever so slightly, it may end up putting pressure on the nerve associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
This does not apply to wrist rests only — leaning your wrists on any surface or placing them in an awkward position for extended periods can place unnecessary pressure on both your hands and wrists.
We recommend stretching your hands and wrists once in a while working, allowing proper wrist flexion and extension. Or better yet, stay active and move around throughout your workday.
Take some time to stretch and do simple workouts in the office — you will feel more energy and be more productive throughout the day.
Another Option for You
Another option to consider is to invest in an ergonomic keyboard and mouse instead. Both options are affordable and proven to massively improve the ergonomics of your workspace.
Because they are designed with the human body in mind, you will see massive benefits and improvements in the comfort level of your work experience.
Some Ergonomic keyboards are very compact, providing more space at your workstation to position your body comfortably. More adjustability means that you can also bring your work closer to you — while eliminating unnecessary muscle strain — without compromising functionality.
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Key Takeaways
Every human is designed differently. Some people have claimed that a wrist rest causes their carpal tunnel to be aggravated more, while some have claimed that a wrist rest completely solved their chronic wrist pain problems. In the end, it all comes down to the user’s preference and circumstances.
We believe that a wrist rest for keyboard can be useful. However, we believe that they should only be considered after addressing your wrist pain by correcting your sitting posture.
It should also be done after adjusting the position of your keyboard and mouse devices, setting up your office chair the right way, and taking into account your desk height.
If you have tried out all of the above and you are still having wrist pain, then we highly recommend getting a wrist rest for your keyboard. Who knows, it might just be what you need all this time!
Whether you choose to buy a wrist rest or apply simple adjustments to your posture, it’s important to quickly address and solve the issues that are causing you discomfort. Taking care of your body and posture will ensure the longevity of your physical condition, all the while having a wonderful day in the office!
