Just because you sit on a desk and work on a computer and a phone the entire day doesn’t mean you’re not at risk of developing some serious health conditions. Your wrists and joints are under the most immense pressure here – you work on a computer, with a keyboard and a mouse that weren’t designed to be used more than just a few hours. The bad new is, you work with them more than 8 hours a day and sometimes you even continue doing that at home. Considering the facts, you’re at risk for developing CTS and RSI which stand for carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury. Along with tendonitis, these are the most common office related conditions of the wrists and joints.
So, are you at risk and what can you do to protect yourself from developing these conditions? If you’re using an ordinary keyboard instead of an ergonomic desktop keyboard, then you most certainly are at risk. Pain in your back, shoulders and neck will inevitably appear – slowly but surely. That being said, using the alternative, which is an ergonomic desktop keyboard, should no longer be just an alternative, but more like a mandatory feature of all corporate areas.
The ergonomic keyboard is designed to prevent conditions like these from happening. The shape of these keyboards is radically re-shaped, so at first glance, they don’t look like a computer keyboard at all. Many of them are split and look like a small, pie-shaped cut out. There are two separate pieces that are rotated slightly outward which is their biggest benefit because it provides a more natural wrist position. Plus, they’re not flat like ordinary keyboards, but are lifted up a little at the centre and designed to fit the curve of the hands.
They’re ergonomic and offer many advantages, but getting used to them is a little hard at the beginning. This is due to the contoured slope which alters the alignment of the entire body by pushing the elbows outward into a far more comfortable position for the shoulders. This awkward feeling will go away with regular use and will eventually deliver long-term positive results such as strain-free muscles.
Another computer element that can cause wrist and joint problems is the computer mouse. While getting an ergonomic mouse is perfectly fine, choosing the other option like a keyboard with build-in touch pads and buttons which allow you to click and drag the mouse with just your fingers, is a lot better. There’s also the pointing stick, which can be located between the keys on the board and as such provide even more comfort, especially for gamers.
In conclusion, getting rid of your old keyboard and mouse is not just a decision to clean the old garbage from your home – it’s a bold investment move into your wrists and joints’ health condition.
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