Work from home essentials: Avoiding injury at home

Microsoft’s ergonomically designed keyboard and mouse set could reduce your wrist or arm pain.

Depending on your job, and how long you’re on a computer, your workspace may have a significant impact on your health. One way to increase your comfort and protect your health is to use ergonomic devices with your computer, at home or at your office.

I’ve been using ergonomic keyboards for nearly 2 decades, with my first ergonomic keyboard being the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite, from back in the early 2000s. It was white, it was loud, but it opened my eyes (and my arm stance) to a much healthier computing experience. It wasn’t cheap, at $65 back in 1998, but it alleviated the discomfort I sometimes faced at the end of a day, at least after I paired it with an ergonomic mouse as well. I went with a larger canted mouse back in the day (a logitech I believe) but I’ve been happy with an Evoulent VerticalMouse (https://amzn.to/3jWOlzS ) for the last 8-10 years (still on my original!).

These days, there are many more choices available. After the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 died after 5-6 years (my average lifespan on a keyboard), I tried out the Perixx split keyboard (https://amzn.to/350EB1o ) as an inexpensive option that is similar to the old Microsoft Elite keyboard. This keyboard would be ideal for someone who like a positive angle on their keyboard (wrist-up) and appreciates long keyboard throws. As an inexpensive keyboard, it does feel slightly cheap, as such I wouldn’t advise it for a primary computer that you’re spending your day at.

What I’m typing this review on now however is Microsoft’s Sculpt keyboard for Business (https://amzn.to/3iXzbsC ). While more expensive, it’s wireless, and has a much shallower wrist angle, and can even be configured for a negative angle (wrist down) with an included riser. The palm rest is also much more substantial, and actually supports your wrist. For the money, this seems like a very solid keyboard, with nice mid-travel key throws, and so far the wireless connectivity is solid, as expected for Microsoft. You can also get it with a somewhat ergonomic mouse, although it’s not a fully ergonomic design like a vertical mouse (https://amzn.to/2ST6ceY ).

If you’re looking for a budget choice, Perixx makes a wired model very similar to the Sculpt that also comes with a vertical mouse (https://amzn.to/34PsZxY ). This would provide an inexpensive way to try out an ergonomic keyboard and mouse at the same time.

If you’re just looking for an ergonomic mouse, but don’t want to drop $80+ on something like the VerticalMouse listed above, I also own an Anker Wireless Vertical mouse (https://amzn.to/3nPEe1W ), that works reliably, however like many wireless mice you do have to “wake” it up before it starts tracking. That being said, I still use mine for secondary use, and the wireless functionality is handy at times.

Don’t settle for arm or wrist pain, do something about it before you do permanent damage to yourself.