Is an Ergonomic Mouse Better for Me?

Ever feel tired after a long session on your computer? All you did was browse and research for your latest work or home project. The constant need to stretch your clicking hand's fingers and wrist indicates a problem. Your regular mouse is forcing an unnatural position on your hands, leading to discomfort.

Manufacturers have come up with a solution that is an ergonomic mouse. It helps promote the natural hand position, reducing muscle and joint stress. These mice are vertical in configuration and are commonly known as vertical mice. How does it become ergonomic by being vertical? And what options do you have in the ergonomic mouse category? Let's explore answers to all these questions in this blog!

Understanding the Benefits of Ergonomic Mice

We must see its benefits to understand whether an ergonomic mouse is for you. It can help steer you in the right direction and help you understand why ergonomics are essential in our daily work lives.

Combat Discomfort: Ergonomic Mice Pain Relief and Posture Improvement

Forcing yourself to work during extended hours can be a painful experience. Body aches, sore wrists, and hurting shoulders are not the best conditions for work. Computers rapidly gained the market due to their incredible productivity enhancement at work and home. However, with time, health issues started to arise in many users. That is when ergonomic peripherals came into place.

A vertical ergonomic mouse puts your wrist in a natural position between 50 and 70 degrees. You click sideways and rest your wrist on the mouse. It releases stress on multiple complex muscles in the wrist, and the effect of a healthier angle goes back to the shoulder and back. There are trackball ergonomic mice that can also relieve pain, but a discussion on this topic will come later in the blog.

Boosting Productivity: The Link Between Ergonomic Mice and Increased Efficiency

Losing focus repeatedly due to dull wrist pain or a tiring body can decrease efficiency. If you are one of those people who takes frequent breaks due to work fatigue on your computer, then ergonomic mice are for you. They boost efficiency by improving focus. The large size of the ergonomic mouse allows for bigger battery life and more programmable buttons for quick access.

Long-Term Investment: Preventing RSIs with Ergonomic Design

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) is a medical term for a health condition that develops due to repetitive motion of muscles. It does not occur overnight but slowly takes a toll on the body. Putting your body through bad postures daily and performing the same click-and-mouse slides can become the reason for RSI development.

The vertical mouse also helps prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the muscles in the user's wrist stretch unnaturally. Many nerves pass through the wrists, making them delicate joints. The vertical mouse eases the wrist muscles and transfers the stress to a stronger shoulder muscle.

Delving Deeper: Different Types of Ergonomic Mice

Designers of computer peripherals always focus on productivity and economics when developing products. However, with time, enough data supports the consequences of using regular mice. Here are the top ergonomic mouse designs that are widely available:

Vertical Ergonomic Mice for a Natural Handshake Position

The most popular option in ergonomic computer peripherals is the vertical ergonomic mouse. It promotes a wrist position that imitates a natural handshake. The first vertical mouse dates back to the mid-1990s. Try taking your hand away from your regular mouse and moving your wrist to a natural handshake position. You will feel a sense of relaxed hand, wrist, forearm, and shoulder. Vertical ergonomic mice promote the hand's natural position and relieve muscle stress.

Trackball Mice for Reduced Wrist Strain

One of the earliest attempts at making ergonomic mice is the trackball mouse. The first trackball was developed in 1946 by the British Navy. The idea caught on and came into commercial use. Trackball mice also put your wrist at a natural angle, but instead of moving the mouse with the shoulder, they utilize thumb motion to move the mouse pointer on the screen. The earliest design of trackball mice dates back to 1994 when Jack Lo patented it.

Ergonomic Mice for Gamers

Vertical and trackball mice are heavy, so finding an ergonomic mouse for gamers is difficult. However, some manufacturers have developed designs with a slight angle to the mouse surface and support for the thumb. Most brands, such as Logitech, SteelSeries, Razer, and MEETION, utilize this technique to develop ergonomic mice for gamers.

Finding Your Perfect Fit: Choosing the Right Ergonomic Mouse

So, you have decided that an ergonomic mouse is a must-have peripheral in your computer setup. You start searching, and there are tons of options. You must know which is suitable for your setup or body type. Let's find the best compatible ergonomic mouse for you:

Size Matters: Selecting an Ergonomic Mouse That Matches Your Hand Size

First, analyze whether you have small, medium, or large hands. Manufacturers often categorize ergonomic mice based on size. Depending on your grip type, you can select either of the sizes.

● Firstly, categorize your hand size by measuring the length from the wrist crease to the tip of the middle finger.

● Check your grip type: Claw, fingertip, and palm are how users handle a mouse.

● If you are a palm gripper, pick the size that matches the dimensions of your hand.

● A fingertip gripper will have to go one size smaller.

● There are three sizes: Small (<175mm), Medium (175-190 mm), and Large (>190 mm)

Wired vs. Wireless: Connectivity Options for Ergonomic Mice

Ergonomic mice can be connected using either a wired or wireless connection. Some mice support both options. In case the battery runs out, the mouse can charge and work at the same time using a wired connection. We recommend using a wireless mouse for ergonomic mice unless it's a gaming mouse.

Wireless ergonomic mice are the best if you are a regular office employee or do not need any ultra-low response time from the mouse. However, if you are a gamer, you will need a split-second response time, which can go <3ms. Therefore, a wired ergonomic mouse is best for gamers.

Making the Switch: Transitioning to an Ergonomic Mouse

If you are transitioning from your traditional flat-surface mouse to an ergonomic mouse, give yourself some time. There is a learning curve, as you are not used to clicking from the new wrist position, and it may be tricky at first. Also, the weight of the wrist is completely shifted to the mouse base rather than to your mouse pad, as earlier.

The Future of Ergonomics: Innovation in Ergonomic Mouse Design

Ergonomic mice are the future. As time passes, more users will start to adapt ergonomic mice to their daily lives. They provide comfort, boost productivity, and prevent many long-term health-related issues. There are typically three designs for ergonomic mice: vertical, trackball, and gaming. Depending on the user's requirements, they can pick either of them.

Vertical mice are the most successful when it comes to ergonomics. They put the least amount of stress on the wrist and other body parts. Check out the MEETION Director C, a 2.4 GHz Wireless Combo that features an ergonomic keyboard and an ergonomic vertical mouse. It is a complete set that will reduce a major portion of your daily work fatigue and enhance your productivity.

We hope you found value in our blog. Do check out MEETION’s official website for more products and ergonomic device options.