Is an ergonomic mouse actually better for you? Is there a disadvantage

Is an ergonomic mouse actually better for you?

And what's the one disadvantage of an ergonomic mouse? Click play to watch the video or read below to find out.

Tired of experiencing pain, tension, and fatigue at work?

If you spend hours each day clicking, scrolling, and dragging with a traditional mouse, you’re probably feeling it:

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A dull ache in your wrist.
Tingling fingers after long sessions.
Tight shoulders or even headaches after work.

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You’re not alone. Studies estimate that 30–50% of daily computer users experience wrist or shoulder pain tied directly to their mouse. What most people don’t realize? It's all caused by the design of the standard computer mouse. If you use a "normal" mouse - it's practically unavoidable!

A Standard Mouse Creates Shoulder (and Neck, and even Back) Pain

A standard flat mouse puts you into a very unnatural position called "internal rotation". It's a fancy medical term - but you can try this right now.

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Put your hands behind your back as if you were handcuffed. Now slide your hands up your back.

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Feel that tension building in your shoulders? That's because they are being pushed further and further into this unnatural position.

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And that's exactly the position that standard flat mice force you into, resulting in fatigue and tension in your shoulder and neck.

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And - this position also makes you more likely to slouch, causing pain all the way down to your lower back. It's all connected!

A Standard Computer Mouse Hurts Your Wrist Too

When you use a standard computer mouse, your wrist has to bend up to get your hand over the mouse.

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This pretty much forces you to rest the underside of your wrist on your desk. That is a recipe for wrist pain, fatigue, and carpal tunnel.

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is essentially a chronic impingement of the median nerve, which runs through your forearm to your palm.

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There are a few ways to cause Carpal Tunnel, but the most common is that near-constant pressure on the underside of the wrist combines with a reduced range of motion to just sort of stick everything together inside there.

Just Say “Om” – External Shoulder Rotation

Everyone talks about how important "external rotation" is, but what does it actually feel like? Try this.

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Pin your elbows at your sides, then roll your wrists out to put your forearms up like that woman meditating.

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Do you feel your shoulders rotating outward, away from your chest?

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

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

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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.

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It even helps prevent slouching and improve your posture at your desk - and it's the foundation of vertical mice.

A Vertical Ergonomic Mouse Solves Wrist and Shoulder Problems - Before They Even Start

The solution to both problems we outlined above is a vertical ergonomic mouse (sometimes called a handshake mouse).

How a vertical ergonomic mouse helps your shoulders

We covered above why it’s so important to hold your shoulders in an externally rotated position. Unlike a standard mouse, which forces you into an internally rotated position (bad), a vertical mouse allows your shoulders to occupy a healthy, externally rotated position.

That healthy shoulder loading means a reduction in abnormal tension all around the joint – reducing neck pain and back pain in addition to loosening up those tense shoulders.

How a vertical ergonomic mouse helps your wrist

This one is simple, but oh-so-powerful. We know Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by chronic pressure on the underside of your wrist. With a standard mouse, it’s a guarantee that you’ll rest your wrist on your desk.

But with a vertical mouse, it’s basically impossible to impinge on your median nerve!

You can’t really reach the buttons of the mouse and create unhealthy pressure between your wrist and desk at the same time. Even if you get super lazy, it will be the side of your wrist against your desk – a much less dangerous position.

So a vertical ergonomic mouse significantly reduces the chance of Carpal Tunnel (to basically 0).

The One Disadvantage of a Vertical Ergonomic Mouse

When you push on a mouse button to click, you are imparting a force on the mouse.

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You might remember from high school physics class that every force has an equal an opposite reaction.

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On a standard flat mouse, you push down on the button, and the desk pushes back up against you, so the mouse doesn't move.

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But on a vertical mouse, when you click the button, you're pushing sideways. So to keep the mouse from moving, you have to provide an equal and opposite force with your thumb.

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This creates additional tension and fatigue that wasn't there before - and the whole point of an ergonomic mouse is to erase tension and fatigue!

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Fortunately - there's an engineering solution to this physics problem. If you can design the click force to be extremely low, then you won't have to use your thumb to oppose it.

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So when you're choosing a vertical mouse - make sure you get one with micro-force buttons!

I Understand a Vertical Mouse is Healthier - But Which Vertical Mouse Should I Buy?

Here's what we think is most important in a vertical mouse:

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Ideal Ergonomic Shape: Tilted most of the way to vertical but not all the way, curved to follow the shape of your relaxed hand.
Super Low Click Force: In a vertical mouse, click force is counteracted with your thumb, so you want this to be as low as possible.
Adjustable DPI and Accurate Tracking: You want to be able to set your mouse's sensitivity appropriately for your monitor(s) so you don't ever have to lift your mouse.
Wireless Connectivity: No cords in the way to catch you up.
Simple Custom Functions: You don't need macros, but being able to assign simple things like copy and paste to buttons on your mouse can really improve your work day.
Great Value: Logitech charges ~$100. Amazon has lots of cheap junk. The true value is in between.

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The Om Mouse delivers on all these, and more. Check it out here.

Grab Your Om Here

How can you try the Om Mouse?

Now that you know why vertical mice are so effective - and what makes Om special - here's how you can get your hands on one:

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Go order Om from the official website (guaranteed lowest price)

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Enjoy your time at your desk without pain and tension.

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OFFER: Currently, the Om Mouse is marked down $30 Off - with an even larger discount for the two-pack. Check if the offer is still active and inventory is in stock here

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Plant your tree today

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today."

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We've learned a few things during our decade in office ergonomics.

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We've learned that investing in your health and fitness is always worth it. When you're healthy, you are more effective at work, more present with your family, and happier each day.

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And we've learned that when it comes to your workspace, there's no such thing as neutral. Every day at your desk is making you better or worse. The longer you wait to set yourself up for success, the worse shape you'll be in when you finally pull the trigger.

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Really, you don't have to wait until you're in pain from years of sitting to get a standing desk!

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In other words - plant your ergonomic tree today. Your body will thank you for it!

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