Ergonomics of Keyboard Pads: How Does Ergonomic Keyboard Wrist Pads Help You?
With the continuing revolutions of technology in the realm of working, people tend to spend numerous hours on computers, laptops, and netbooks, and this has taken a serious toll on our bodies. As it leads to repetitive stress injuries, our health is put at risk.
Before these chronic pains exacerbate, it is best to consider office tools that are not only functional but also prompt your comfort and safety.
The most commonly used office tool is the keyboard, and this is where the health risks set foot in. With a standardized design and without the proper support, workers may suffer from painful strains and unproductive performance. With this in mind, keyboard wrist pads are the perfect match whether you’re into standard keyboards or the ergonomically-designed ones.
How does Ergonomic Keyboard Wrist Pads Help You?
Prior to the discussion of the benefits of keyboard wrists pads, let us first learn and understand the potential ergonomic hazards without them in the workplace.
The absence of keyboard wrist pads is the presence of wrist extensions. While typing, your wrists will more likely bend. If the angles of wrist bending increases, the chances of contact stress, irritated tendons, and tensed muscle and tendons also increase. Plus, you’ll suffer from repetitive tingling sensations in your fingers and persistent numbness in your hands.
High repetition and prolonged keying tasks with these symptoms may lead to tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel happens when the wrist’s tendons on the median nerve inside the carpal tunnel are pressured. Resting the wrist on a hard surface intensifies the pressure on the wrist’s interior and aggravates the carpal tunnel syndrome. Having a desk to rest your wrist may sound beneficial but the truth is, it is harmful. That is the worst possible scenario associated with poor wrist rests.
Of course, you won’t allow these all of these sufferances to impede your work performance and your personal life too.
The solution? Simple, ergonomic keyboard wrists pads. Now, we can proceed in discussing the handful of benefits that keyboard wrist pads offer.
Keyboard wrist pads help keep your wrists in the right and neutral position to avoid tension on your muscles and tendons. It prevents the development of tendinitis and carpal tunnel problems by hampering constriction of blood vessels or pressure on tendons and nerves in the wrist.
Into the bargain, keyboard wrist pads position your wrists and forearms to the right angle so that it can move harmoniously with your hands and fingers. When the wrists, hands, fingers, and forearms are properly aligned to the keyboard, it follows a natural and more relaxed movement even with prolonged use.
Gone are the days when its movement is restricted causing tension on the muscles and tendons.
Your Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Keyboard Wrist Pad
Just like the menaces of having no wrist rest, using a poorly made keyboard wrist pad can also be harmful. Improper wrist rests are potent to easy deterioration that may harm your wrist posture and health. Also, it may come with substandard materials making the surface dirty, sweaty, too firm, and may even cause sores on your skin. Worst, you’ll end up in the conditions that you were actually avoiding—tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
On this account, choosing the right keyboard wrist pad is crucial. It must be a good quality product, certified durable, cost-effective, and customized to your needs. Depending on your preference and needs, you can choose a keyboard wrist pad that is made from memory foam or gel. As long as it is not too firm, fairly soft, and just perfectly right to put your wrist in a very easy position, either of the two options is good to go.
When you’re looking to purchase a pad for your keyboard, make sure to measure your key height from your work surface. Then, match the wrist support to the width, height, and slope of the front edge of the keyboard.
Your keyboard wrist pad must also coordinate with the type of keyboard you are using. A slightly below the key height is the recommended measure of the keyboard wrist pad you are going to choose. Lastly, pick a keyboard wrist pad that comes with a soft surface or cloth material. Prioritize your comfort and safety. Your keyboard wrist pad must be sturdy enough to remain comfortable throughout the day, but soft enough to allow the natural movement of your wrists.