Do Mechanical Keyboards Help With RSI?

Most innovations start at gamers’ setups, then the rest of us catch up a few years later.

Sometimes, we repurpose a piece of hardware or an app differently. And at other times, we discover broader uses for this tech.

A clear example is the way ergonomic setups help with certain muscle or joint problems, like repetitive strain injuries.

So, do mechanical keyboards help with RSI?

The short answer is yes, they do.

In this article, we’ll talk about RSI, mechanical keyboards, and the best ways to stay healthy while working on a computer for hours on end.  

What Exactly Is RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)?

RSI is a term that covers a number of health issues associated with office or manual work. This term was first used in the early eighteenth century when an Italian physician spotted these problems among workers.

Repetitive strain injuries happen when a person moves in awkward or uncomfortable ways repeatedly.

The human body is designed to operate with a certain degree of freedom but often limited flexibility i.e. our elbows, knees and wrists only bend in one direction.

And forcing it to go against its optimal positioning often strains your joints, tendons, muscles, and even the nerves.

The causes of RSI

The cumulative effect of these mini-traumas pile up, and then suddenly manifests as painful RSI or a similar stress-related injury.

Many of these health issues are relatively recent, caused by the repetitive use of modern technological devices such as a keyboard or mouse.

Some examples are:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Tennis shoulder
  • Tendonitis
  • Cubital tunnel syndrome.
  • PlayStation thumb
  • Stylus finger
  • Raver’s wrist
  • Emacs pinky

Too much typing, twisting the wrists constantly, using the hands excessively, or bending over a laptop, are all open invitations for RSI.

Even looking at a monitor that’s placed too high or too low below eye level can cause severe neck or backaches.

The signs and symptoms of RSI

RSI presents in a variety of ways, and some of them are subtle.

But there are some serious signs that warrant an immediate visit to a medical professional.

  • Weakness in the elbows, wrists, hands, or fingers
  • A tingling feeling in the hands after a long day at work
  • Tender or raw spots in the palm, fingers, or elbows
  • Throbbing pain after a long typing session
  • Noticeable numbness or loss of sensation   

Treatment and prevention of RSI 

Reversing these health issues is often hard, and treatment sometimes involves surgical intervention. Typical protocols involve pain killers, muscle relaxants, topical pain relief ointments, and physiotherapy.

Moreover, if unwell people don’t seek medical help from the onset of the problem, full recovery might not be possible. They could be forced to change their line of work entirely. Clearly, RSI is a condition that should be avoided in every possible way.      

Prevention is, of course, far better than treatment. And that’s why we are considering all the benefits of using a mechanical keyboard.  

How Are Mechanical Keyboards Different From Normal Keyboards?

Mechanical keyboards emerged when the need for more efficient and durable input devices became a business requirement.

Employees who input a lot of data each day needed a keyboard that was comfortable to work on for long periods of time but that also wouldn’t need to be replaced every few months.

Enter the mechanical keyboard.

The tactile feel of the keys

A membrane keyboard provides very little in the way of tactile response i.e. when you push a key it never feels like it connects with anything.

There are two issues here.

The first is that low tactile response can lead to missed keystrokes simply because that type of configuration allows for sloppy typing skills.

Secondly, minimal tactile response is also a quick way to cause yourself permanent injury. The best example I can provide for this is of martial artists who kick fresh air vs. kicking a heavy bag.

The martial artists who kick the heavy bag will develop far fewer hip injuries later in life than those who stand around kicking fresh air for 4 hours per week.

Membrane keyboard clicks lack depth, response, and gradation.

Mechanical keyboards sorted out this little matter in a bunch of different ways.

Currently, there are several options you can try out, from the very smooth, to the ‘clicky’ types reminiscent of typewriters.

That means you can choose a level of tactile response that best suits you.

An ergonomic and compact design

The long hours that gamers, programmers, and other tech-savvy folks spend using a keyboard definitely affect their hands and arms after a while. Reaching the conclusion that the keyboards needed an overhaul didn’t take too long but finding the right design took a while.

The first attempts involved trimming the size of the keyboard. But that didn’t seem to help much, and in some cases, ergonomic keyboard proved to be even more cumbersome to use.

The next generation of ergonomic keyboards had palm rests, which helped in keeping the hands in the right position.

The latest innovation was far more drastic, and actually split the keyboard into two!

The Ergodox EZ is a good example of a totally ergonomic and fully programmable keyboard. It requires users to relearn how to type, but after that, it’s supposedly great for maintaining healthy joints and muscles. They get bonus points for designing a keyboard that actually looks like it belongs in the future.

Are ergonomic keyboards the miracle cure for RSI or preventing it in the first place?

The only way you can be sure is to test one for yourself. 

Tips for avoiding RSI

Repetitive strain injury, or RSI, is caused by two main things: adopting wrong postures and repeating these hard positions several times.

Luckily, there are some easy measures to prevent, or lower, the odds of RSI.

  1. Get used to sitting and working while maintaining a good posture
  2. Keep your hands flat on the desk
  3. Avoid overstretching your fingers
  4. Keep your wrists aligned with your forearms and hands
  5. Take frequent breaks, at least 5 minutes every hour
  6. Don’t ignore pain, tenderness, numbness, or any signs of discomfort
  7. Stay active when you’re not working
  8. Try to strengthen your muscles and joints by playing sports
  9. Try to do stretches every day, more than once if you can.
  10. A wholesome healthy diet keeps your body strong and resilient
  11. Try to use ergonomic devices and a comfortable setup
  12. Pay attention to your emotional wellness and de-stress at the end of every day 

Wrapping it up

Repetitive strain injuries impact tens of millions people worldwide each day.

In our digital age, most of our work involves using a keyboard for long hours.

To avoid the potential trauma that comes with that, a simple solution like using a mechanical keyboard could be quite useful.

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