By Ryan Feeley, Ph.D.
Last Updated: August 2025

"When you're looking at vertical mice - you have to understand click force is the single most important factor"

It's been long established that a vertical mouse puts your body in the best position. But choose carefully!

(Editor’s Note: This article is part of our Office Ergonomics series, featuring PTs, OTs, and experts in biomechanics.)

Refresher - Benefits of the Vertical Mouse Position

Flat mice put your body into an unnatural and stressful position. Mousing around all day with an ergonomically improper setup just about guarantees wrist pain, shoulder tightness, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

And with an estimated >50% of the computer working population affected, it’s clear that using a standard computer mouse is damaging our bodies.

Fortunately, a vertical mouse solves this at the root of the problem - by allowing your body to take a natural "externally rotated" position during your hours at your desk.

Just Say “Om” – External Shoulder Rotation

Try this right now:

• Pin your elbows at your sides.

• Now roll your wrists out to face your forearms up towards the sky (like that woman meditating)

Do you feel your shoulders rotating away from your chest?

That new shoulder position – called the “Om” position for the sound meditators make – is external rotation.

And it is the healthiest position for your shoulders to occupy under load or for long durations.

It makes everything stable and well-organized, because it’s just how your shoulders are designed to be used. And it will protect you against tense shoulders, back pain, and neck pain.

This natural position is the foundation of vertical mice. By keeping your hand upright, your body aligns naturally, removing the damaging twist built into every traditional mouse.

And reducing the bend and pressure at your wrist also greatly reduces the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome too.

So vertical mice sound great. But what's the catch?

The Major Problem with Vertical Mice

Unfortunately there's one little mistake that can mess this whole thing up.

And it's a mistake that the engineers of many vertical mice have made, especially in the early days.

And especially on one of the best-selling "value" mice in history. Oops!

It's all about the click force.

When you click a vertical mouse, any force you use to push the button makes the mouse want to spin.

But of course, that moves the cursor on the screen - something you don't want to happen while you're clicking.

So to counteract your clicking force, and keep the mouse from spinning, you have to squeeze with your thumb. And that adds lots of unnecessary stress and tension, to your forearm especially.

But eliminating stress and tension is the whole reason we switched to a vertical mouse in the first place!

Fortunately, there's a solution.

Make sure you get a mouse with the lowest possible click force

With modern microswitches and clever design, engineers can design a mouse that has an extremely low click force, completely eliminating this major issue.

So you get to keep all the ergonomic benefits of a vertical mouse, but none of the downside. That's a pretty sweet deal!

That's why when you pick a vertical mouse, you need to make sure you get the lowest click force you can find. Because you don't want your thumb to need to be involved at all.

We've tested the click force of every vertical mouse we could find, and the Om mouse is the lowest (the clicks are also totally silent).

Why I Love the Om Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Mouse

First - the click force is super low. It has the lowest-force microswitches inside, and a button design on the outside that reduces the click force even further. The Om Mouse has a really low click force, it's perfect!

Just as important, the ergonomics are fantastic. It’s such a joy to hold that I couldn’t stop using it as soon as I got it out of the box. And, obviously, it delivers on the vertical mouse benefits of improved shoulder position and wrist health.

It’s lighter than I expected, but now I completely love the weight. It’s just as heavy as it needs to be to feel substantial, like the quality product it is, but it’s so easy to slide across the whole screen or pack up for a trip.

Also the wireless on this thing is just perfect. As soon as I plugged the (tiny) usb antenna into my computer, the mouse just worked. It goes to sleep after a few minutes of non-use to save battery, but a single click wakes it up instantly.

With perfect ergonomics and flawless performance in a vertical ergonomic mouse for under $50, it was a no-brainer, but my shoulder and wrist are sure glad I made the right decision.

How can you try the Om Mouse?

If you're interested in trying out this more natural mousing position - here's how you can get your hands on one:

• Go order Om from the official website
• Enjoy your time at your desk without pain and tension

Check Current Availability