Wrist rest

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Dell KB522 -- top with wrist rest detached.jpg
A keyboard with a detachable wrist rest.
MousePadWithSiliconeGel.JPG
A padded mousepad with a wrist rest.

A wrist rest (a.k.a.palm rest, wrist support, or palm support) [1] is a device used to support the wrists while using a computer keyboard or mouse. [2] Wrist rests have common usage in the workplace. [3]

Contents

Design

Wrist rests can be made from memory foam, gel, leather, or hardwood, the most common being memory foam rests. [4] Memory foam rests retain impressions for longer, while gel rests quickly return to their original shape. [4] Gel rests provide more cooling. [4] Some computer keyboards come with a wrist rest included. [5]

Ergonomic use

The wrist can be strained by the increased angle when typing without a rest. Computer keyboard bent wrist.gif
The wrist can be strained by the increased angle when typing without a rest.

There are mixed opinions on whether wrist rests for computer keyboards are a benefit to ergonomics. [2]

The main benefit of using a wrist rest is increased comfort, especially for those using keyboards over long periods. [1] [4] Usage of a wrist rest can alleviate tension can take away pressure from the neck, shoulders and arms. [2] Using a keyboard without a wrist rest may increase the bending angle of the wrists, causing strain and tendon irritation. [1]

Prolonged contact between the wrists and the rest may cause carpal tunnel syndrome or tenosynovitis. [2] Resting the wrists on a rest while typing may prevent motion of the wrist, causing issues. [1]

To mitigate potential problems, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends the hands to be elevated above the rest while typing. [1] While not typing, the rest should contact the hand's palm/heel, not the wrist. [1] As well, they recommend for the wrist rest's slope and height to match the front of the keyboard, and for the rest to be soft, with a depth of at least 3.8 centimetres (1.5 in). [1]

Scientific research

A 2004 study published in Elsevier described the literature on the efficacy of wrist rests as "limited, inconclusive, and contradictory". [3] Some studies have concluded that wrist rests reduce strain while others have concluded rests cause more strain. [3] A 2018 study looked at a sample size of 25 during prolonged typing. [6] They found wrist rests to reduce fatigue in the biceps brachii muscle but have no effect on the upper trapezius muscle. [6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Wrist/Palm Supports". Occupational Safety and Health Administration . United States Department of Labor.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Office Ergonomics - Wrist Rests". Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety . Government of Canada. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  3. 1 2 3 Cook, Catherine; Burgess-Limerick, Robin; Papalia, Shona (May 2004). "The effect of wrist rests and forearm support during keyboard and mouse use" . International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. 33 (5): 463–472. doi:10.1016/j.ergon.2003.12.002. ISSN   0169-8141.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Galang, Anton. Wagener, Yoona (ed.). "The Best Keyboard Wrist Rests of 2024". Lifewire. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  5. ↑ Bacchus, Arif (2023-01-25). "The best keyboard wrist rest in 2023". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  6. 1 2 Callegari, Bianca; de Resende, Marília Maniglia; da Silva Filho, Manoel (January 2018). "Hand rest and wrist support are effective in preventing fatigue during prolonged typing" . Journal of Hand Therapy. 31 (1): 42–51. doi:10.1016/j.jht.2016.11.008.
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