Helping Hands Heal since 2005
From Dr. Z - Carpal tunnel syndrome specialist
If you're shopping for a carpal tunnel keyboard, look for some important features. There are many keyboards to choose from depending on your needs. But certain features are common to the best ones.
And if you hands hurt while you type on a keyboard, pay attention to that pain. It could mean a problem is lurking that can be a bigger issue later on. Specifically, that problem is carpal tunnel syndrome - the most common hand problem today.
So using an ergonomic keyboard is a good start. But you should ALSO need to learn a few key facts about carpal tunnel syndrome that can help avoid pain altogether.
Hurting hands can be a sign of a progressive condition known as
carpal tunnel syndrome. Perhaps your doctor already gave you the bad news after their carpal tunnel test
was positive for this condition.
But most people don’t need a carpal tunnel syndrome test to know that they have this disorder. There’s plenty of information available to tell you what the hallmark symptoms are: pain, numbness, tingling, shooting electric shocks, burning, and weakness in your hand and fingers.
Also, your little finger is not affected. Most people have finger or hand numbness (particularly on the palm) or thumb pain. This usually is enough to verify you have carpal tunnel syndrome.
It means you’re like five million Americans with this disorder right now. It's a widespread medical problem of the hand with no signs of letting up.
At the mild stage of carpal tunnel syndrome, most people have already purchased a wrist brace to wear at night. That's a great primary defense for carpal tunnel syndrome. But never wear a brace while you use your hands, like when typing. Doing so only makes your hand fight the brace, further stressing it.
Also, be sure to only wear a certified carpal tunnel brace. Ordinary pharmacy braces contain a palmar spine which is harmful if you have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Are you working at a computer and keyboard a lot but the night bracing doesn't help? Then you must ensure your workstation is not hurting your hands. Usually, poor posture is to blame.
So be mindful of your posture. Make sure it's proper while you work. Here are the major things to look for:
An important aspect to a healthy workstation is good ergonomics. Many people are already aware of the need for a good, comfortable carpal tunnel keyboard or carpal tunnel mouse - especially if they’re typing all day long. These two instruments are usually sold together or attached. You probably already know there are many kinds of each. Read below to find out more.
Crucially, most of these ergonomic products essentially do the same thing; they create a way to minimize hand and finger movements. Most doctors will recommend them because they help - a lot!
Traditional keyboards are inexpensive. But prepare to spend several hundred dollars for a good ergonomic one. And bear in mind that "expensive" does not necessarily mean "good".
There basically are 4 types of ergonomic keyboards. Each is discussed below. You should know that:
Whichever carpal tunnel keyboard you choose, look for one with a separate number pad and a palm rest. Those will help support your hands in a comfortable position.
This is a typical feature of an ergonomic keyboard. This keyboard splits the keys into two groups and separates them to minimize exaggerated hand positions. As a result, your hands fall in a more natural position.
When you type on a regular keyboard, take note: see that your hands converge toward your body's midline. To compensate, you must bend both wrists sideways to align your fingers with the keys. A split keyboard requires no such unnatural wrist bending.
A split keyboard can also be Tented. It forms a pyramid so that hands are not flat but tilted up at the thumbs. This orientation untwists arm bones as you reach and type. It's a more natural posture when your hands are extended.
To understand why this is important, lift yor arms and let your hands dangle freely. Notice that your hands are tilted inward, with the pinky being lowest. This is how the tented keyboard is oriented.
Unlike traditional keyboards with elevating feet at the rear corners (a positive incline), a negative incline keyboard lets your hands bend downward at the fingertips.
This is usually an advantage for smaller hands. However, some people with larger hands feel this increases undesirable finger extensions.
As with any of these keyboard options, you must feel comfortable and natural with the design.
Compact keyboards are gaining polularity. This configuration brings a mouse closer in line with your shoulders by reducing the keyboard's width. Doing so reduces upper arm and shoulder stress.
This design is better for people with a smaller body frame. A larger body frame requires the arms to bend inward in order to line up with the keys. Then the hands must twist to align with the keys. Overcoming this is the logic behind a split keyboard (1) above.
You’re making the right decision to solve your hand pain issues by first changing your workstation -- right now. And a carpal tunnel keyboard is an excellent way to start.
Sadly, there are thousands of people who wished they did the same thing, but it was too late for them. They underwent carpal tunnel surgery and extensive recovery and rehabilitation simply because they delayed nipping their hand pain problem in the bud.
A carpal tunnel keyboard is a good workstation modification to help control the hand pain and numbness of carpal tunnel syndrome. There are several features to look for, depending on what your needs are.
