Ergonomic mice for computer. The most ergonomic computer mouse

This Monday I will talk about a mouse that helps avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. Let's go!

Below the cut is a medical educational program about the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, how to avoid it, and of course, a review of the vertical mouse.

About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

As we know, carpal tunnel syndrome is also called CTS, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome (although those who translate this way should be killed, it’s even worse than alkaline. Carpal is just a hand), carpal tunnel syndrome, radiocarpal syndrome, in the common name RSI, Repetitive Strain Injury (chronic disease of the hands) is damage to nerve tissue (neuropathy) due to certain unfavorable conditions. Strictly speaking, calling it carpal tunnel syndrome is not entirely correct - carpal tunnel syndrome can manifest itself not only in the hand, while carpal tunnel syndrome is, by definition, only in the wrist :)
Unfavorable conditions can be very different - usually it is monotonous work of the hand or prolonged exposure to unnatural positions. Accordingly, the risk group includes those people whose work or pastime involves prolonged strain on the wrist and/or prolonged work with the hand - forever alone, cyclists and bikers, assemblers, packers, musicians, artists, and of course, people who work with a mouse and keyboard.

To make it clearer, look at the picture above. We are interested in the median and ulnar nerves - a bundle of nerves, the branches of which innervate most of the hand (shown in lilac in the figure):

They are located next to a structure called the carpal tunnel:

This is the structure that holds the flexor tendons of the fingers relative to each other and the wrist - the tendon bursa (blue part in the picture). It is located between several bones and ligaments - in the tunnel of the wrist joint.
What happens with prolonged bending of the joint, awkward position of the hands and many monotonous movements?
Prolonged tension in the muscles of the hand leads to a deterioration in their blood supply, which, when disrupted, begins destructive processes in the tendons and muscles. By themselves, they do not yet cause harm, the body knows what needs to be done - the blood flow through the damaged area increases, which ensures normal nutrition and timely removal of decay products. When the harmful effects cease, the unpleasant sensations will go away on their own.
But if we continue to work with the hand in the same way (there are not very many painful endings, and it is problematic to notice the onset of the disease), continuing to strain the muscles, and at the same time reducing the lumen of the tunnel by bending the hand, then we get swelling of the muscles and tendons - the fluid is not removed properly way.
The developing edema puts pressure on the median and ulnar nerves and adjacent vessels, causing hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and swelling of tissues and nerves. The nerve in this state cannot fully perform its functions, which causes such unpleasant effects (paresthesia) as: decreased sensitivity, pain, tingling in the fingers, weakness of the palm. The muscles of the hand and fingers, which are controlled by the nerve, gradually “relax” - signals from the brain do not fully reach them, and they begin to atrophy. All this against the backdrop of pain that intensifies at night and prevents sleep.

Scary? Only with the help special, with a vertical mouse you can heal your hand... Just kidding, unfortunately. No mouse, not even the most expensive one, will help you - the disease arises from several factors, which must be removed in a comprehensive manner. In 90% of the simplest gymnastics performed regularly 10 minutes a day will remove all symptoms. You didn't miss a word regularly, Truth? If the only thing you do when you have symptoms is buy a mouse, this will not save you, except to delay their intensification.

The main idea of gymnastics is rest from harmful factors, but not from movement. Get up, walk around, wave your arms. Unclench and clench your hands, shake your hands. Many problems arise from monotonous movements - so you need to get rid of them by regularly making movements different from the usual ones. Everything is described perfectly here.
I will tell you about getting rid of only one factor - the incorrect position of the hand lying on the mouse.

Right or wrong?

Stand up, relax your arms, lower them down. What position did they take? The palms are turned inward, “toward yourself.” Now, place your hand on the table without changing its position anywhere except the elbow. How is she lying? Elbow and edge of the hand on the table.
Now put it on the mouse. What happened? The hand has rotated almost 90 degrees relative to the elbow. This hand position fits perfectly into the existing paradigm of using a computer - left mouse button, right mouse button, middle button, etc.

But it is not physiological - the muscles that provide inward rotation (pronators), arms and hands are constantly tense, and the instep muscles (muscles that rotate “outward”), on the contrary, are stretched. What constant muscle tension leads to, I already wrote - swelling, and then on the rise.

For example, the pronator quadratus muscle, a muscle that rotates the forearm inward, is most tense when the hand is not positioned correctly. And it is located right next to the carpal tunnel, so its swelling will primarily put pressure on the nerves and blood vessels, which will cause discomfort.

When using a vertical mouse, the hand retains its “normal” position, in which there is no additional load on the supinators and pronators.

True, there are still problems with monotonous finger movements - when pressing keys and turning the wheel. Only a radical change in the input principle will help you cope with this - a touchpad, a trackball (the thread calls for one who will talk about his experience with trackballs), jaded hotkeys or a graphics tablet.

As usual, I wanted to write briefly about the syndrome, but it turned out that the details make up most of the text. I wrote it, showed it to a friend, he asked about something, I had to add it. I showed it to the doctor - he corrected a couple of inaccuracies, said a lot of clever words for which I had to give an explanation... Okay. About the mouse.

About the mouse.

Package:

Extremely strange packaging, getting the mouse out of it is quite problematic. We will have to deal with Velcro, adhesive tape, a tricky system for attaching the mouse and wire, and understand the mental torment of the Chinese developer of the box, torn between convenience and beauty. In my struggle with these problems, I completely forgot to show you the back of the box, here it is:

Finally, we got the mouse.

What catches your eye is the thin but long wire, even with a filter at the end:

Very soft, bends well, and does not interfere with mouse movements. Nothing else remarkable. Let's return to the mouse:

The key on the end is a DPI switch (from 800 to 2400), which allows you to adjust the speed of mouse movement to suit your needs.

On the right side there are two buttons (“left” and “right”, heh), and a standard wheel. It does not swing to the sides, however, this function is performed by two buttons on the back side:

They are located next to the notch for the thumb, and to be honest, I unintentionally touched them a couple of times. Apparently, you shouldn’t attach functions to them that have a hard-to-reverse effect - deleting files, for example. I have problems with switching tabs in my browser.
The surface on which most of the palm rests is made of rubber-like material, which is almost impossible to clean from dust particles and fabric fibers - they stick to it remarkably well even immediately after wiping. In fairness, I note that other contaminants are washed off and erased from this surface quite normally. The rest is ordinary plastic, which has neither serious advantages nor critical disadvantages.

There is only a sensor on the bottom of the mouse:

There are a large number of sliding legs (6 pieces), and they perform their function quite well.

As the most attentive readers have probably guessed, the “sole”, designed to provide support for the hand, is detached. I feel very comfortable with her too, but suddenly.

Results of use

The first week was Very unusual. So unusual that I thought several times about switching back to classic mice. Although I was able to work fully within a couple of days, for a few more days, every time I took it in my hand I had to make an effort to remember which button was which. But after a week I used it quite calmly, and after two weeks, the classic mice seemed strange and very uncomfortable, to the point that I didn’t want to take them in my hand.
This is what a mouse looks like in your hand:

I especially liked, oddly enough, playing various shooter toys with such a mouse - almost like a joystick.
Another feature that I noticed is that you have to move the mouse not with your hand, but with your whole hand, due to the fact that the wrist is less flexible with this grip. I understand that this is more useful for the brush, but still, a little unusual.
The DPI button is very useful - after getting used to it, the DPI can be increased, but you will have to move the brush less.
Good news - my arm doesn't hurt. But she had never been sick before.

Price

The mouse was ordered from BuySKU for $26.
Nearby in the catalog there is the same one, but wireless, although its maximum DPI is lower - 1600. It costs a little more - $47. I doubted its convenience, so I bought the version with a wire, which I now regret - somehow it would have been more convenient without wires.

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Today, many computer peripheral manufacturers have ergonomic computer mice in their product range, but not everyone knows about it. That's what we'll talk about today. It doesn’t matter who you are, a student, a gamer, an office worker, or engaged in any other type of activity that requires working on a computer or laptop. If you have to sit for a long time with a computer mouse in your hands, you will appreciate the gadgets presented here. Why are ergonomic computer mice better than regular ones? You will find the answer to this question.

1. Swiftpoint GT

This miniature gadget can easily be called the best ergonomic mouse for a computer in 2018. After all, Swiftpoint GT is a gadget, not from some famous brand, but one that this year managed to find recognition on crowdfunding platforms and launch serial production.

By the way, at Computex this year they presented a controller for VR games, which is also controlled by feet - . So maybe the era of Foot Gadgets is coming.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Many companies have been trying to create a truly ergonomic mouse for a long time. Many such gadgets are already on sale, but as we understand, miracles do not happen. Ergonomics is an individual thing. After an hour of traveling through the Internet, someone’s hand already hurts. And someone plays for hours every day and nothing, everything is fine. And there is no need to talk about the therapeutic effect of manipulators.

Company DNS also did not remain aloof from these trends and released a number of ergonomic mice. The most unusual - DNS PRESTIGE 040GD ERGO Gray USB 1600 dpi and came to me for review.

If you see it on the counter for the first time, you won’t even understand that it’s a computer mouse; they immediately asked me: “What kind of snail is this?” Indeed, the designers took a different path, instead of changing the shape of the mouse to fit the hand, they rotated the user’s hand 90 degrees, thereby obtaining the so-called “vertical mouse”. At the same time, getting a more natural position of the hand on the manipulator: like on a joystick, or on the levers of equipment.

I’ll dwell a little on the question: why is the usual shape of a mouse so dangerous? When working with such a mouse for a long time, we risk getting wrist or carpal tunnel syndrome. If the hand is parallel to the table, then our wrist bones turn out in an unnatural way, causing prolonged overstrain of the ligaments of the hand and elbow, which leads to pain, numbness and weakness.

According to the manufacturer, a vertical mouse will help avoid this ailment and even cure it if it already exists.

Thank God, I managed to avoid this over many years of practice, but this is most likely due to regular visits to the gym.

When buying, of course, you may be scared off by the unusual shape, especially since the price is high enough for you to just buy it and try it out. Therefore, in my review I will try to describe in detail the sensations of working with this device.

Before writing, of course, I scoured the Internet and found this model, but produced under the Delux M618 brand. These mice were not sold in Russia, enthusiasts purchased them via the Internet, and now they are available to everyone, just go to the DNS store.

Package

The device comes in a bright orange box with a large blister. You can try the mouse in your hand without removing it from the box.

Besides the mouse itself, the only items in the box were a miniature user manual and two AAA batteries.

At first, not finding the USB receiver, I panicked a little, as it turned out in vain, it was inserted into a special recess at the bottom of the mouse.

The box contains all the necessary information about the technical characteristics.

Appearance

Due to its peculiarity, the mouse is only suitable for the right hand. The shape resembles a cone. This cone fits very comfortably in the hand; this is also facilitated by rubberized inserts with ribs that prevent the hand from slipping.

Fingers rest on the right buttons, there are only six of them including the scroll wheel. There are two buttons under the thumb: in the browser, they provide navigation to the page back or forward.

At the top there is a button to switch between the resolution of the optical sensor, there are three of them: 800, 1200, 1600 dpi. There is no indication, the next resolution is simply switched on sequentially, which is not very informative.

There are pads on the bottom to improve sliding, but they are not very slippery, as they clung to the surface on the fabric mat. The previously mentioned storage compartment for the USB receiver, the battery compartment and the power on/off button are also located here.

Well, it’s worth mentioning separately such an unusual detail as a wrist rest. This stand makes the mouse orthopedic. You will have to move the mouse not with the usual movement of the hand from side to side, but by moving the entire hand, while the movement occurs from the elbow, so it is desirable that it lies comfortably on the table. It is because of this that guidance accuracy suffers.

Of course, I tried to use the device without a stand, here the positioning accuracy undoubtedly increases, and we come to the ergonomics of a regular mouse, only with a tilt, but the orthopedic effect practically disappears. But as an option, this method is suitable for games or working, for example, in graphic editors.

Photographs rather than written descriptions provide a more accurate idea of the mouse's shape.

In action.

There are no drivers or software for the mouse. I connected the receiver to the USB port and everything works.

Of course, the unusual shape requires a lot of getting used to and relearning; on the fourth day I adapted to the new design. The hand lies quite comfortably, the hand does not strain, operation of the buttons is convenient.

The problem of difficulty in positioning is solved by detaching the wrist rest. Without it, I was able to play shooters and work in Photoshop quite comfortably. The only inconvenience is taking the mouse off the table surface: it simply slips out of your hands. If you try to grab harder, all the buttons are pressed.

Having worked with this mouse, I can conclude that this device is most suitable for those who spend a lot of time working at the computer. Whether they are office workers or travelers on the Internet. The ease of use here is undeniable, no discomfort.

But for those who like to play, or work in graphic editors, it may not be suitable. But again, everything is individual, perhaps it will be convenient for a gamer to play with such a mouse; without a stand, I quite liked this process. And for working with graphics, I also have a graphics tablet.

As for the therapeutic effect, this clearly does not happen in a couple of days. I will lend a mouse to a colleague who suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome, but at work she often has to use a computer. Then we’ll look at its capabilities, and then I’ll draw the appropriate conclusions.

As an example, I present drawings made using this mouse, a regular mouse, and a graphics tablet. You can see and compare the accuracy of positioning and line of movement.

Conclusions

It is not often possible to find a vertically oriented mouse on the Russian market. I'm glad that this model has appeared in stores. DNS. To a greater extent, it can please people suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome and those who work a lot at the computer.

And an unusual design can attract enthusiasts. The design is what determines the high price of this model.

Advantages:

Comfortable hand position
Change resolution
Laser sensor
No wires
Design
Quick installation

Flaws:

Material quality
Not accurate positioning
High price
Inconvenient to carry over a table
No dpi switch indicator

Ergonomic indicators

Most manufacturers state in their product brochures that their products are the most optimal for use. Spending most of our time at the computer in the era of information technology, we want to be surrounded by convenience and comfort. This also applies to a computer mouse. So, who developed and what is the most ergonomic computer mouse?

First, let's figure out what ergonomics is. From the point of view of explanatory dictionaries, this is optimal use, maximum convenience and comfort. So which mouse can we call the most ergonomic computer mouse?

First of all, let’s highlight the indicators by which ergonomics can be assessed:

Ease of use.
The most suitable shape for the hand.
Optimal size.

In accordance with these parameters, we can select the most ergonomic computer mice.

The first place in this honorable list rightfully belongs to the laser mouse of the Chinese company RAPOO. The 7800P laser mouse has many features and characteristics that make it a leader in this field and the most comfortable computer mouse:

Design: the mouse itself is made of plastic, but there are inserts on the sides that are rubberized for ease of use.

The mouse weighs 117 grams.
Size - 124 x 78.
The mouse is wireless, which makes its use much more convenient.
There is a button for changing the resolution from 800 to 1600 dpi.
There are two buttons on the side that the user can program at their discretion.
Wheel - 4 D.

These indicators make the RAPOO 7800P mouse rightfully the leader among ergonomic computer mice.

Logitech Wireless Mouse

Interestingly, this mouse has a competitor. The fact is that Logitech announced that it has developed an ergonomic mouse model for the Wireless Mouse M235 laptop. This model is already on sale, and users themselves can evaluate the degree of its ergonomics.

Nothing more convenient for controlling a personal computer than a mouse-type manipulator has yet been invented. On sale you can find special tablets, pointers and touch monitors for interacting with the operating system, but the mouse was and remains the most attractive option in many respects.

But not every manipulator can be called convenient. Design flaws are most often noticed by people who spend the lion's share of their time behind a monitor screen. We are talking about designers, artists, gamers and users of other categories who, due to their profession or hobby, are forced to most often come into contact with the mouse.

Ordinary, or, as they are also called, office manipulators are not suitable for them. Here you need a special device - an ergonomic computer mouse. One of the main advantages of such gadgets is convenience. The appearance of such a mouse may be a little startling for the average user, but you forget about it as soon as you start working with the manipulator. And after such an experience, I no longer want to switch to conventional devices.

The best ergonomic manipulators

Let's look at the best ergonomic mice that can be found on sale today. We will analyze the remarkable characteristics of the devices, and also mention the advantages and disadvantages of the models. All of the gadgets described below are rare guests in regular computer stores, so you have to order them either on the developer’s official resource, or on the distributor’s website, or on the ubiquitous Aliexpress.

A vertical ergonomic wireless mouse offers its owner maximum comfort and extremely high-quality assembly, even despite the affordable price tag. This manipulator is an ideal option for those who experience problems with their hands.

An ergonomic computer mouse can run under Linux, Mac and Windows operating systems (starting from the XP version). The optical sensor offers three sensitivity levels - 800, 1200 and 1600 dpi. There are also “Forward”/“Back” buttons on board, which makes web surfing much easier.

The ergonomic mouse runs on a pair of AAA batteries. When idle, the device goes into power saving mode. Judging by the reviews, users clearly liked the ergonomics of the gadget, build quality, and compatibility with all popular operating systems. Among the disadvantages, owners note some difficulties in connecting the manipulator to the Mac platform.

This is one of the most ergonomic wireless mice from Microsoft. Judging by user reviews, the model does not strain the fingers at all during operation, but the wrist feels especially comfortable thanks to the original design.

The ergonomic mouse functions perfectly on almost any surface, with the exception of bare glass. Adding even more convenience is a special Win key on the case, which provides access to the Start menu and other functions of the Windows operating system.

Despite the rather modest dpi of 1000 units, the model is extremely responsive. Microsoft uses its proprietary BlueTrack technology here, which allows you to accurately track all user movements.

The ergonomic mouse runs on two AAA batteries. The maximum permissible distance from the receiver is 3 meters. Judging by the reviews, the gadget performed well in the Windows operating system, but is also compatible with the Android and Mac platforms. Naturally, the branded Win button will remain out of use in the last two cases.

MX Master is, judging by the reviews, an excellent gaming and ergonomic mouse. The model is quite compact, but at the same time it fits extremely comfortably in the hand, occupying the entire palm. The manipulator is cross-platform, it can be connected to all devices where a mouse is supposed to be used.

A USB port is designed for the needs of gamers, and for office and other uses there is a Bluetooth wireless protocol. Judging by user reviews, the manipulator feels quite confident on any surface, including problematic ones: fabric, cardboard, metal, etc.

The abundance of additional keys allows for flexible configuration of an ergonomic mouse. On the Windows and Mac platforms, you can assign an impressive list of functions and behavior of the manipulator. That is, completely customize it for yourself and the tasks you perform.

The manufacturer, instead of the usual AAA batteries, equipped its mouse with a full-fledged rechargeable battery, which needs to be recharged periodically. Judging by the reviews, the manipulator will last a little more than a month when fully charged. And this is a very good result for a multifunctional device. The only thing that did not suit some users was the steep price tag. For this amount you can buy a pair of the mice described above from Microsoft, and some simple office pointing device for change.

Another vertical representative of this segment, the reviews of which are extremely flattering. The model almost completely removes the load from the wrist thanks to the “joystick” design. The gadget only works in tandem with a cable without any wireless protocols. This is beneficial for gamers, due to the minimum ping level, but those who like to walk around the room with a mouse will have to look for other options.

The model has all the necessary qualities of a modern manipulator. On board you can see several functional buttons, some of which can be reassigned at your discretion. There is also a dpi switch. The sensitivity of the gadget is at a quite acceptable level - from 600 to 1600 dpi.

Judging by user reviews, there are no problems with compatibility. The mouse feels great on both Windows platforms of all versions and Mac. True, some owners complain about problems with reassigning buttons on Mac, but everything can be solved by installing additional software from the manufacturer’s website. Users were also pleased with the quite adequate cost of the manipulator.

This is a very interesting manipulator with an original appearance. The model is vertical, with full thumb support, which allows you to relax your hand while working. Judging by user reviews, you can exercise with the mouse all day long without getting tired.

The manipulator has five buttons, two of which are customizable. You can set the functions in the manufacturer's proprietary application. The software works equally well on both the Windows and Mac OS platforms. There is also a button for adjusting dpi. You can adjust the sensitivity from 800 to 1600 dpi.

Device Features

The mouse works both via a USB connection and via Wi-Fi wireless protocols. Instead of AAA batteries, a rechargeable battery is installed. The latter is charged while the device is connected via a USB cable. Battery life ranges from 30 days, after which you will have to “tether” the mouse to the computer to recharge.

Users speak very warmly about the mouse and its capabilities. The device attracts not only its excellent ergonomic characteristics, but also its high-quality assembly, functionality, and its affordable cost. Plus, the manufacturer gives a one-and-a-half-year warranty on the model, which is a very good reserve for gadgets of this kind.

In conclusion

When choosing an ergonomic mouse, you need to take into account not only ease of use, but also other equally important factors. The quality of operation largely depends on the sensor. The more accurate it is, the smoother the cursor moves across the screen.

If you just need a convenient manipulator for clicking on icons on a monitor with a diagonal of no more than 19 inches, then it is not at all necessary to chase sensitivity. For office work, 300 dpi is quite enough. This indicator is important for gamers and designers who care not only about accurate, but also fast cursor movement on a large screen (21”+).

As for the sensor, LED mice are noticeably cheaper and are quite suitable for performing most ordinary tasks, including design ones. Laser options position the cursor more accurately, but such manipulators are more suitable for professionals and gamers who have several large monitors on their desk. Ordinary users simply will not notice the difference between optics and laser.