Best Mouse For Carpal Tunnel in 2024
It can be pretty difficult to sit in front of a computer all day, especially when you struggle with pain. When you’re using a mouse, your hand is not in a natural position, and as such you are more likely to struggle with carpal tunnel syndrome. Thankfully though, you can look for an ergonomic mouse that can help you to deal with strains and injuries, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome.
There are a lot of great options out there for anyone suffering carpal tunnel syndrome to try. It’s because of this wide selection that it can be so challenging to get the right option for you. We’ve written this article to make things just a little easier for you.
Be sure to consult a medical professional if you’re not sure which type of mouse is right for you, and try to test a couple of hand and arm positions if you can before committing to a new purchase. Read on for our picks of the best mouse for carpal tunnel, based on in-depth research and ley factors.
Products at a Glance
How we picked our best mouse for carpal tunnel list
If you’ve never bought a mouse for carpal tunnel before, you may not be sure exactly what you’re looking for. Thankfully, we’ve considered a few key metrics in choosing the products for this list.
First of all, we’ve thought about how comfortable the mouse is to use – is it ergonomically designed for people with carpal tunnel? Is it made for left or right-handed use? We’ve also thought about some other important features, such as how much the mouse costs and how durable it is. Oh, and we’ve considered what else the mouse has to offer, such as extra buttons.
Product Reviews
- Comfortable to use
- Can be used to control three PCs at any given time
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Doesn’t have USB receiver storage
Finding the right mouse when you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome is no easy feat. With that being said, you can tell just by looking at the Logitech MX Master 3 that this is a mouse that’s going to ensure you’re comfortable when using your computer all throughout the day.
This mouse is truly spectacular. It comes at an incredibly affordable price, just to start with. The mouse comes in a rather peculiar-looking shape, but this is what makes it so great for ergonomic use. It has a scroll wheel that operates very quietly, ideal for reading long articles in the office! In fact, we could probably sit here and talk about the scroll all day – we won’t bore you with those details!
With the mouse, you are capable of controlling up to three computers or laptops at any given time. You can even set certain profiles depending on what you need at the time.
In addition to this, the mouse works using Bluetooth connectivity. It has a stable connection to your computer, so it works even for things like gaming. The only real issue with it is that it doesn’t have USB receiver storage.
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Quiet operation
- Not ideal for gamers
A vertical mouse can be a real asset to a person that struggles with carpal tunnel syndrome. Of course, you may not have heard of Pry Rose before, but the Pry Rose Vertical Wireless Mouse is a spectacular example of why a vertical mouse is so great for people with carpal tunnel syndrome.
So, what is there to love about this mouse? First and foremost, this mouse is ridiculously affordable – you won’t need to break the bank to take advantage of this mouse! Not only that but it’s also incredibly ergonomic, so it’s not going to put a lot of strain onto your forearm and wrists. It’s lightweight too, which makes it extra enjoyable to use.
In addition to the basic left, right, and scrollbar buttons, you’re also going to get a small button on the side. This button can help you to change between the DPI levels. What’s even better is the fact that the mouse is practically silent in operation, so you won’t need to panic that you’re irritating your coworkers.
There’s even a wireless and a wired version available on the market, so if you prefer to have a wired mouse you won’t be left out. It doesn’t quite have the responsiveness that you may want if you’re a gamer, but as a whole it’s certainly a fantastic mouse for people that suffer with carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Comfortable to use
- Ideal for office work
- Durable
- It has high click latency
If you’re in the market for a reliable vertical mouse for the office, you’re in luck when you purchase the Anker Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Mouse. This mouse is pretty awesome, and will certainly help with putting less strain onto your wrists.
The mouse is incredibly comfortable to use. The ergonomic features are practically unparalleled, and you can easily use it for many hours without feeling like your wrist is hurting a lot. It’s certainly best suited to office work, but it can also work incredibly well for when you need a mouse for traveling since it’s so lightweight.
The mouse is also exceptionally durable, so in theory you could probably throw it at a wall and it will still be in one piece – not that we would advise you to do that! It’s not really the best choice for gaming though since it has a high click latency and the performance can be a little inconsistent, so it’s important to keep that in mind.
- Comfortable
- Good for smaller hands
- Customization options
- Can take a while to get used to
It can often be a little tough to find a high quality vertical mouse that works well for people with small hands. Fortunately, the Evoluent Vertical Mouse 4 is ideal for those of you with smaller hands. The ergonomics are spectacular and you’ll even get a lot of customization with this mouse too.
Most of the comfort of this mouse comes from its design. You would use it as you would shake a hand – it puts your hands in a natural position while you are browsing the web or doing other tasks on your computer. All you need to do is plug it into the computer and away you go!
Of course, it can take a while to get used to this mouse, which is the case with vertical mice in general. It’s incredibly comfortable though, especially if you struggle with wrist pain. In short, it’s certainly a mouse that we would recommend.
- Programmable buttons
- Horizontal design
- Ambidextrous design
- Doesn’t have a scroll wheel
A vertical mouse can be a lot to get used to – we get it! If it seems like a little bit too much of a change for you, then you can invest in a slightly modified horizontal mouse. The Logitech Trackman Marble may be just the thing that you’re looking for.
The mouse comes with two rather big buttons on the front. These can be programmed to your liking, or you can just use them as you would use standard left or right click buttons. It’s incredibly comfortable to use, and it’s even got an ambidextrous design!
It doesn’t actually come with a scroll wheel which isn’t ideal but you can program the smaller buttons on the mouse to act as scrollers instead. It’s even affordable, so what are you waiting for?
Best mouse for carpal tunnel – things to consider
Type of mouse
One of the first things to think about when you’re buying a mouse for carpal tunnel syndrome is the type of mouse that you want to get. There are a few options out there, and they can all have an impact on your comfort while using them.
The very first kind of mouse is your standard horizontal mouse. They usually have two buttons on the very top that are divided by a scrollbar button in the middle. They usually aren’t the best choice when you’re using your mouse for many hours at a time, since they require you to position your hand in an angle that’s a little awkward for your wrist.
The second type of mouse is the vertical mouse. This mouse tends to look a little strange, but it’s certainly a more ergonomic option. They are designed to be more comfortable for your wrist, but they can take a while to get used to. It’s usually a decent choice for people with carpal tunnel syndrome, since you need to use different muscles in order to use a mouse like this.
The next choice is the trackball mouse. This mouse is essentially what it says on the tin, it is a mouse and it has a trackball in it that you can move around. You need to move the trackball instead of the mouse. You don’t need to strain yourself using this mouse – your hands get to have a rest for a while. These are a fantastic choice if you are limited in terms of desk space. It’s not the best choice if you’re a gamer, and they can take a while to get used to.
Finally, we have yet another strange-looking mouse – the ergonomic horizontal mouse. These options are a tiny bit more ergonomic than your standard horizontal mouse, but the principle is basically the same. They have just a few minor adjustments that help to make them more ergonomic – this can go a long way! You should have all of the benefits of a normal horizontal mouse without the wrist pain.
Comfort
One of the most important things to keep in mind when buying a mouse for carpal tunnel is how comfortable it’s going to be.
This is even more vital to consider if you are going to be using the mouse for long periods of time. It’s important to get a mouse that rests easily in the hand, with a lot of support for your wrists and your thumbs. What is comfortable for you may not be comfortable for someone else so this is a personal decision.
Buttons
Gone are the days when you only had left and right buttons. No, now you can get a plethora of different buttons on your mouse, all designed for different purposes. This is great for creating shortcuts on your mouse to make your computer use much easier. Sometimes you can even program the buttons, which is especially useful.
These aren’t strictly necessary, but it’s definitely worth looking out for a mouse that has extra buttons since it can save you from making extra movements and further causing yourself pain.
Size
Something that can have a huge impact on the overall comfort of the mouse is its size. Size really does matter when it comes to your mouse! For instance, if your hands are rather small, a mouse that’s too big is probably going to be rather challenging to use. Your fingers are going to need to stretch out more, which can be rather uncomfortable.
Likewise, the opposite is true. You’ll have to put your fingers in an awkward position to use a smaller mouse if your hands are big.
Instead, it’s best to invest in a mouse that’s the ideal size for your hands. You will know if the mouse is the right size as the fingers will just stretch a little over the mouse’s edge, and your palm should be relaxed. You should be able to move the mouse with more than just your wrists.
Use
You should also take a little time to think about what you are going to be using the mouse for. Think about how long you will be using it and why you’re using it. For instance, there are actually mice that are made specifically for gamers so if you are primarily going to be using the mouse for gaming, this could be a good option for you. With this, you are less likely to risk hurting your wrists while gaming too.
On the other hand, if you aren’t planning on using the mouse for long periods of time, it may not be worth investing in a super expensive mouse that will get barely any use. You can get ergonomic mice for very little money if you look in the right places. If you’re an office worker and you’re going to be using the mouse for long periods of time each week, it’s worth investing in an ergonomic vertical mouse to give your wrists a break.
Other considerations
When you are choosing your mouse for carpal tunnel, there are also some other things worth keeping in mind. For instance, if you are left-handed you may want to get a mouse that is designed for left-handed users. This will make it a lot easier for you to use the mouse since it’s designed specifically for your hand.
You will also want to think about the battery life of the mouse. For instance, does the mouse come with a sleep function so it stops working when you aren’t using it? Something like this can have a dramatic impact on how long your mouse lasts before you need to charge it or you need to get new batteries.
Last but not least, you’ll want to consider the cost. Consider whether the cost is worth the money – if it’s comfortable and ergonomic, then it’s likely worth the investment. You don’t want to get a cheap mouse that’s super uncomfortable – this could make your carpal tunnel syndrome that much worse.
Wired or wireless
Whenever you’re buying a mouse for your laptop or computer, it’s always a good idea to think about whether you want a wired or wireless version.
A wireless mouse is super convenient! They are very simple to connect since they work from radio frequencies, infrared or Bluetooth. This keeps them connected to your laptop, so long as it’s within a certain distance of the laptop. It looks a lot less messy too since there won’t be cables scattered around your desk. You can put it wherever you want to while you’re using it. Unfortunately, these options usually require charging. You may need to get replaceable batteries in some cases, which can be pretty expensive when you’re using the mouse a lot. If you get a wired mouse though you don’t need to worry about that, but your mouse position will be dictated by the wires. Ultimately it depends on what you value the mouse in your mouse, however.
Our Verdict
The Logitech MX Master 3 is well-priced, comfortable, easy to use, and offers good connectivity. In short, it provides a great overall package, and we believe its ergonomic strengths – and that it can be connected to three computers at once! – can really help users.
No switching mouse between systems, no trickiness to use it, and no massive expense to acquire one makes the MX MAster 3 our top choice.