Hi, I’ve been meaning to make a travel-friendly ergonomic keyboard setup for a couple years ago after starting /r/ergomobilecomputers, so far just been on a raised tablet setup with a regular keyboard (a setup I’ve enjoyed, but will confess I’ve some slight pain from using a standard keyboard with it)

What kinds of recovery stories have you experienced yourself or heard from others in using a certain ergomechkeyboard?

Were there things outside of having a more ergonomic setup that helped (i.e. just better sleep, diet, hygiene, mood) too?

Basically curious to hear some stories of how these things have helped fellow jank-embracers!

I did try searching around the original sub for ‘pain’ and ‘rsi’ but feel like it may be worth asking again on here.

UPDATE: Thanks again for all the stories so far both here and on the related reddit thread! Made me revise a brainstorm keyboard idea that could facilitate redirecting pinky use on the left control key + right arrow keys to something that uses the thumb + index finger instead.

  • minusfive@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Yeah, that’d be me. Switched to a Moonlander first to manage an RSI, went cold turkey to Colemak too. As someone else said, I wouldn’t recommend switching layouts. I like it, but I don’t necessarily think it’s worth it.

    I think the split + tenting definitely helps. Actually, scratch that: I know, because whenever I switch back to my Apple keyboards the ulnar deviation pain is obvious. But I think the fact that the switch slowed me down SIGNIFICANTLY helped, too.

    I’m deep in the rabbit hole now, though, on a Corne, as I found besides ulnar deviation, right pinkie overload was the next cause of pain. And wrist rest use (turns out you’re not supposed to use those for typing, just for resting, but no one tells you until it’s too late).

    So yeah, lots of factors, you have to honestly assess yours and address them. It’s not a straight line, you kind of have to try and see what works for you.

    • nonagoninf@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I’m deep in the rabbit hole now, though, on a Corne, as I found besides ulnar deviation, right pinkie overload was the next cause of pain.

      Also two of Corne’s thumb keys are far too much inward 😬, known to cause thumb issues.

  • dunk2k@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I started to get pain in my forearms when learning to touch type, after almost two decades of two finger, hen peck typing 😳

    After using a Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard I noticed a massive improvement, within a short space of time, in that forearm pain was eliminated and negative tilt was just unquestionably comfortable. I complimented this gradually with retraining muscle memory for Colemak-DH (functional layout), and correcting my desk height and chair height for correct posture.

    The Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard has been “quietly retired” in favour of split bodied, programmable, ergonomic mechanical keyboards that further increase ergonomics and continue to prevent pain in my forearms.

    Suffice to say I’ll never go back to a “slab” keyboard nor positive tilting. It’s perplexing to me and an oversight by the peripheral industry that truly ergonomic design for Human Input Devices (term encompasses keyboards and pointing devices) hasn’t become mainstream or standardised, given the medical benefits and general sensibility 🤷‍♂️

    • MostlyBlindGamer@rblind.com
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      1 year ago

      Yes. Besides keyboards, adjusting my desk and chair and even monitor (VESA arm) has been amazing.

      On the topic of HID, that also extends to Braille displays and keyboards which are, for some reason, consistently more ergonomic.

      Check out the eight big blue keys on the Focus 14, for an example: a proto-columnar stagger.

  • DeltaWhy@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I could have stopped with a Microsoft Natural keyboard and been fine pain-wise, but I had already started down the mechanical rabbit hole and missed the feeling of mechanical switches. The basic ideas of split, tenting, and reverse tilt helped a ton, but I could have been fine without column stagger or a reduced layout.

    I now use a 40-key low profile column staggered split with Colemak-DH and it’s a joy to type on. Learning Colemak-DH was probably the lowest benefit to effort of all the changes I’ve made, so I don’t exactly recommend it. Now that I’ve already spent the time to learn it, though, it’s definitely comfy to type on. If you want a mobile setup though, I think a split board like a Corne, Sweep, or Totem, or one of the many derivatives would be a great upgrade for your tablet setup. There are a few solutions for tenting but you may find you don’t need it - while it was essential for me at first I’m now fine using a split board flat on the desk.

    I also found a vertical mouse made a big difference- I used the $15 one from Anker for a few years. Trackballs can be good too. I also noticed holding my phone put my wrist at an awkward angle, so I got a pop socket and that was helpful too.

    • seltzered@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      Interesting to hear the pop socket helped with the phone! Been meaning to just wean my phone use but may consider that.

  • nonagoninf@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I had wrist pains every now and then over the years. They never felt bad enough so find a doctor, so it never had a specific diagnosis.

    Then I had a worse brush with wrist pain I decided to try several split keyboards (Microsoft Sculpt on and off, Kinesis Freestyle Edge, Ferris Sweep, Kyria) and they didn’t really improve things and sometimes gave me new pains. Only after switching to a Kinesis Advantage2 I saw large improvements and wrist pains mostly going away.

    I also started to be more mindful of taking breaks (sometimes it works out, sometimes I am so focused that time flies by) and do some hand exercises during breaks. I also got an easily adjustable standing desk (just a press of the button), so I can tune it to have exactly the right height and switch between sitting and standing.

  • crankin@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I say this as someone who’s fully in the weirdo zone, currently typing this from a 30-key board of my own invention with a strange layout: I don’t think going beyond something like a Microsoft Natural keyboard will do a whole lot for rsi. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun and it does help! But realistically I think you hit diminishing returns pretty quickly.

    In my experience, most bouts of typing pain that I’ve encountered in two decades as a professional software developer have ultimately been caused by myofascial issues in my arms, shoulders, and neck. The muscles in your upper back and neck can shoot pain, tingling, and numbness down your arms, hands, and fingers, far away from where the actual problem is. For example your scalene muscles in the base your neck, which can get tight from sitting with raised tense shoulders, can cause pain and numbness in your wrist, thumb, and index finger. Ditto with your infra- and supraspinatus muscles in your upper back. No amount of wacky layouts and homerow mods will correct that, but getting a deep tissue massage (or better yet, learning to do it yourself) will.

    As nerdy people living in a consumer culture, I think it’s natural to want to search for a technical solution or a product to buy, and certainly having equipment that allows you to work in a comfortable and relaxed posture is important, but learning about the body and how to do some basic muscle maintenance will likely serve you better than waffling between 30g vs 35g springs in your switches.

    Now that being said, I do have a messed up joint in one of my thumbs from a few too many skateboard crashes, and it does not bend in certain directions. Keyboards with very “tucky” thumb clusters or too heavy a spring on that switch are painful to use, and changing to a board that more naturally accommodates that injury absolutely does help.

  • jamiehs@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Yes. And the best part is that I use my custom Dactyl Manuform like board and a vertical mouse while working; the computer I do gaming/creative stuff on still uses a regular flat board and a standard mouse and the pain doesn’t return as long as I use both systems regularly.

  • beefteeth@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Yes, but I think mostly because it’s split and tented more than having a columnar stagger. I’m currently using a Sofle rgb v2.1. Using a vertical mouse also saved my right elbow. Whenever I travel for work and use my laptop’s keyboard, I have to take long breaks every 90 minutes because my joints flare up that quickly.

  • ish@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Not really. Ulnar nerve issues. I’m on the wait list to see specialist. Ergo consultants think my setup is spot on. Use Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro a Glove80 and a basic TKL at the moment. Mixing it up is best, but the TKL causes the least amount of pain heh.

  • Yote.zip@pawb.social
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    1 year ago

    I’m not quite sure if I ever had “real” RSI, but I switched to a split ortholinear keyboard 4-5 years ago and I never have any pain/numbness/etc in my wrists anymore, despite programming all day.

    I would say that a split keyboard is absolutely 100% mandatory for everyone who uses a computer. Your wrists are not meant to bend the way they do with a slab keyboard. Anytime I see someone post an expensive slab mech keyboard I cringe so hard - such a waste of money.

    Ortholinear doesn’t seem like it has that much impact on RSI but I appreciate it still, and I would go for it if an ortholinear keyboard doesn’t cost too much extra.

    I also use linear switches and replaced the springs on them to like 30g or something super light. I think it’s more comfortable to tap and type quickly with but I guess you have to be more confident with keystrokes or you’ll mistype stuff. I don’t know if I’ve seen anyone else do this in the name of RSI, and IDK if it actually helps that much.

    Also as a semi-related tangent, I wouldn’t recommend switching from QWERTY to Dvorak/Workman/Colemak unless you’re a big nerd. I did it a long time ago and I think those layouts are objectively superior and more comfortable, but I don’t think they really do that much for RSI. I type the same speed as I did on QWERTY, it’s just a lot more “zen” now, and my fingers don’t move very much. QWERTY finger movements are so chaotic in comparison. The problem is it took me about 2-3 months of practice to get to ~40 WPM on a new layout, after which I switched full time and my WPM quickly grew back to around 140. I used to have issues with QWERTY muscle memory acting up every once in a while but it doesn’t happen anymore. I still type QWERTY on my phone - seems to be different muscle memory.

    • seltzered@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      Thanks for sharing and nice to hear the argument that " a split keyboard is absolutely 100% mandatory"

      Yeah, part of the reason I’m asking is because I was originally set on a rather subtle design (split monoblock with a bit of angle, not much space in-between). I had some slight pain on occasion but largely viewed many users on here doing more ‘preventative’ setups.

      The recent pain has been making me ask myself again whether to do that approach or go for a more complicated sparatable split design. I’ve used fully split setups before but they weren’t travel-friendly.

      • obosob@feddit.ukM
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        1 year ago

        There are two major benefits in ergonomics with fully-splits. They are that, 1, they acknowledge that one size does not fit all in that they offer a way to move them around and find the right angles and positions for you and your hands; and, 2, “the best posture is the best posture” - i.e. the ability to move and adjust your setup throughout the day/session is itself an ergonomic benefit, staying in one posture is one of the roots of RSI.

        Another thing that full splits offer that you may find beneficial is tenting, especially (again) adjustable tenting. Monoblocks don’t tend to be tented and when they are they are stuck at a fixed angle, if that’s not the right angle for you then it’s a problem, and adjustability is king for the aforementioned reasons.

        Now, there are many factors, split keyboards are not a panacea. Mouses/pointing devices play a role, as do chairs, desks and maybe most importantly habits! Take regular breaks, move around, etc. Again, the best posture is the next posture.

        Also don’t listen to people on the Internet and consult a doctor/physiotherapist.