Contrary to popular belief, wrist rests should not be used to rest your wrist while typing. Instead, there are a few basic guidelines for using ergonomic wrist rests that will boost your productivity and help prevent repetitive strain injuries and tissue breakdown. Before you next sit down at your computer, read our tips below and use a wrist rest appropriately!
Why Use a Wrist Rest
V2 Keyboard with GT7-0017
When you’re at work 40 hours a week or more, it’s imperative that you’re taking your health into consideration as you work. Wrist rests are an essential component of an ergonomic-centric workflow. When your wrists are continuously resting against the hard surface of your desk, they will be put under pressure which will cut off blood flow to your wrists and cause tissue damage.
Instead of relying on your desk for support, consider a wrist rest. The keyboard will move your wrists and forearms into the desirable neutral typing position to help reduce carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries, making your typing more productive and less detrimental to your body. Keyboards will also alleviate pressure from your shoulders and keep your wrists from bending backward. Wrist rests will keep you in a good position in between typing. At the end of the day, you will notice the positive difference these small changes will have on your body.
How to Setup Your Wrist Rest
Go!2 Keyboard with the GT8-0017 Wrist Rest
Whenever possible, you should place your keyboard toward the edge of your desk to prevent having to rest your wrist against the hard surface of your desk. However, when that’s not possible for your workflow, you will want to supplement your desk with a wrist rest. Your wrist rest should be placed just next to your keyboard, with the height and angle of the slope matching your keyboard as closely as possible. Remember, you don’t want your wrists to be at a different angle than your hands, so choose a wrist rest that most closely coordinates with your current keyboard.
How to Use a Wrist Rest
As the name suggests, you should use a wrist rest to rest your wrists in between typing sessions. However, when you’re resting, you should place your palm or heel of your hand against your wrist rest – not your wrist.
When typing with a wrist rest in place, you still want to maintain the ideal typing position. Your feet should be placed firmly on the ground at a 90-degree angle with your legs, your back should be pressed against your desk chair, and you should sit up straight with your shoulders back. Additionally, your wrists and forearms should be straight – with minimal bending of your wrists – so ensure your desk is at the correct height to maintain your positioning.
What Type of Wrist Rest Should I Choose?
There are a variety of wrist rest variations available on the market today, but before making your purchase, there are a few features you want to be on the lookout for.
- Choose a wrist rest that matches the height and width of your current keyboard setup.
- Select a wrist rest that is firm enough to support you, but with softness and flexibility to be comfortable.
- Ensure your wrist rest is covered with a smooth fabric, like Lycra, to reduce irritation caused by the friction of your hands.
Take out the guesswork from your selection process, and choose one of our wrist rests from Goldtouch! Browse our collection of products and select the best one for your workflow here!
