4 ms·

i killed my RSI that I had for YEARS by seriously over-hauling my workspace. I also went to occupational therapists who helped me figure out what I was doing wr

i killed my RSI that I had for YEARS by seriously over-hauling my workspace. I also went to occupational therapists who helped me figure out what I was doing wrong and how to fix it. I use a moonlander split keyboard so my shoulders are properly spread out instead of hunched together, and my wrists and arms can fall at a more reasonable angle. I use a "tall" ergo mouse. This was a huge upgrade from my small mouse and I definitely noticed the improvement. I figured out how to properly set the height of my desk such that I was not craning my arms up or down. i fixed my "cross-legged" posture I used to use while sitting at the computer. And finally: I built up a weight lifting habit that strengthened my entire body. Of all of them, weight lifting likely had the biggest impact.

IntToDouble 3y ago
+1 on weight lifting. Issues began when I stopped lifting. Since then, they flare/fade according to the 90 day trend line of gym attendance.
- dinkblam 3y ago
  not scientific evidence but just one more data point to corroborate this line of thought. i never had even the slightest wrist problems during 26 years of typing and software development - but i've also never stopped exercising, including frequent weight-lifting.
aodonnell2536 3y ago
I’ve been strongly considering a split keyboard recently, and have been looking at (and loving the ergonomics of) the Moonlander, but struggle to reason paying $365 when every keyboard I’ve bought in the past has been <$80. Do you by chance know of any cheaper alternatives with similar ergonomics?
- throw47474777j 3y ago
  Are you a professional keyboard user? If so, I'd prioritize picking the keyboard that suits you best over price.
  - Agingcoder 3y ago
    I agree with this. After compressing one my nerves quite nastily ( right hand wouldn’t move ) I invested what was at the time a significant amount of money into a keyboard ( kinesis). Best money I’ve ever spent!
- blt 3y ago
  I bought ergodox EZ and haven't had a bad RSI flare-up since. It's worth the money if you can afford. The switches are individually replaceable. Should last decades.
- thor_molecules 3y ago
  I have an iris, I would highly recommend. Similar to a Moonlander (not as many keys though). https://keeb.io/collections/iris-split-ergonomic-keyboard/products/iris-essential-model https://keeb.io/collections/iris-split-ergonomic-keyboard/pr...
- honkycat 3y ago
  microsoft sculpt keyboard
  - themadturk 3y ago
    The Sculpt keyboard is the best. Unfortunately, I understand Microsoft has discontinued it.
- bbbobbb 3y ago
  Kinesis freestyle is pretty cheap. I bought the mechanical one which is more expensive but don't use it. I'm too comfortable with microsoft ergonomic keyboard with light membrane keys https://www.microsoft.com/en/accessories/products/keyboards/microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard?activetab=pivot:overviewtab https://www.microsoft.com/en/accessories/products/keyboards/... of which I have three. The only issue with the microsoft one is that it has to fit you since it is split but one piece. With a fully two piece split keyboard you can adjust it to your needs.
- wesapien 3y ago
  Kinesis Freestyle could be it
pulvinar 3y ago
I originally learned to type the "proper" way with wrists bent, but my hands have long since found a more comfortable angle (no bend) and it hasn't slowed my typing. Never did figure out what was so proper about keeping your hands aligned with the keyboard, since keys aren't in neat vertical rows anyway.
charbuff 3y ago
I came her to comment on the quote from Ousterhout that, "It's not clear to me that you can ever "recover" from RSI; all you can do is stabilize at your current level of disability." I hope he got a chance to fully recover. I too had debilitating RSI, leading to needing wrist braces and typing with a pencil lodged in my left hand and a few achy fingers on my right. The book "It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals" [1] really opened my eyes on how to treat it. I didn't start weight training, but did spend at least 20 minutes a day on trigger point therapy between my shoulder blades and elbow crease. That helped the most. Then a vertical mouse, split keyboard, ergonomically placed chair, and correct table height helped prevent the recurrence. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Its-Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome-Professionals/dp/0965510999 https://www.amazon.com/Its-Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome-Profession...

IntToDouble 3y ago

+1 on weight lifting. Issues began when I stopped lifting. Since then, they flare/fade according to the 90 day trend line of gym attendance.

dinkblam 3y ago
not scientific evidence but just one more data point to corroborate this line of thought. i never had even the slightest wrist problems during 26 years of typing and software development - but i've also never stopped exercising, including frequent weight-lifting.

aodonnell2536 3y ago

I’ve been strongly considering a split keyboard recently, and have been looking at (and loving the ergonomics of) the Moonlander, but struggle to reason paying $365 when every keyboard I’ve bought in the past has been <$80. Do you by chance know of any cheaper alternatives with similar ergonomics?

throw47474777j 3y ago
Are you a professional keyboard user? If so, I'd prioritize picking the keyboard that suits you best over price.
- Agingcoder 3y ago
  I agree with this. After compressing one my nerves quite nastily ( right hand wouldn’t move ) I invested what was at the time a significant amount of money into a keyboard ( kinesis). Best money I’ve ever spent!
blt 3y ago
I bought ergodox EZ and haven't had a bad RSI flare-up since. It's worth the money if you can afford. The switches are individually replaceable. Should last decades.
thor_molecules 3y ago
I have an iris, I would highly recommend. Similar to a Moonlander (not as many keys though). https://keeb.io/collections/iris-split-ergonomic-keyboard/products/iris-essential-model https://keeb.io/collections/iris-split-ergonomic-keyboard/pr...
honkycat 3y ago
microsoft sculpt keyboard
- themadturk 3y ago
  The Sculpt keyboard is the best. Unfortunately, I understand Microsoft has discontinued it.
bbbobbb 3y ago
Kinesis freestyle is pretty cheap. I bought the mechanical one which is more expensive but don't use it. I'm too comfortable with microsoft ergonomic keyboard with light membrane keys https://www.microsoft.com/en/accessories/products/keyboards/microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard?activetab=pivot:overviewtab https://www.microsoft.com/en/accessories/products/keyboards/... of which I have three. The only issue with the microsoft one is that it has to fit you since it is split but one piece. With a fully two piece split keyboard you can adjust it to your needs.
wesapien 3y ago
Kinesis Freestyle could be it

pulvinar 3y ago

I originally learned to type the "proper" way with wrists bent, but my hands have long since found a more comfortable angle (no bend) and it hasn't slowed my typing. Never did figure out what was so proper about keeping your hands aligned with the keyboard, since keys aren't in neat vertical rows anyway.

charbuff 3y ago

I came her to comment on the quote from Ousterhout that, "It's not clear to me that you can ever "recover" from RSI; all you can do is stabilize at your current level of disability." I hope he got a chance to fully recover. I too had debilitating RSI, leading to needing wrist braces and typing with a pencil lodged in my left hand and a few achy fingers on my right. The book "It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals" [1] really opened my eyes on how to treat it. I didn't start weight training, but did spend at least 20 minutes a day on trigger point therapy between my shoulder blades and elbow crease. That helped the most. Then a vertical mouse, split keyboard, ergonomically placed chair, and correct table height helped prevent the recurrence. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Its-Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome-Professionals/dp/0965510999 https://www.amazon.com/Its-Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome-Profession...