How to Reduce Your Laptop Wrist Pain

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Wrist pain is an unfortunate consequence of spending lots too much time on your laptop. When your work and hobbies revolve around technology, it’s hard to escape the ergonomic downfalls that come with using a laptop. Severe wrist pain can hinder your productivity at work and your ability to enjoy online entertainment.How to Reduce Your Laptop Wrist Pain

While different parts of our body may seem separate, everything is connected. If you hunch over your laptop, this position causes your neck and shoulders to tighten, eventually spreading to your arms and wrists. The remedy is to optimize the ergonomics of your workstation. In addition, some of the best laptops come with intuitive designs and features that will increase your comfort.

Reducing wrist pain may also require you to change some unconscious habits that put stress on your joints. Learn how to minimize laptop wrist pain by following the seven tips below.

1. Invest in a Good Chair and Desk

Posture is one of the most critical factors to reduce laptop wrist pain. Investing in a good chair and desk makes it much easier for you to sit with proper posture. If you sit in bed all day or in a poorly supported chair, you’ll struggle to keep your back straight. Typing in awkward positions hunched over your laptop contributes to wrist pain and causes your shoulders to tighten.

Look for a chair and desk that allows you to sit comfortably with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. This position will help you avoid straining your back. Keeping your monitor at eye level will also protect your neck and shoulders from tightening up. Good posture goes a long way in combating wrist pain that develops after years of laptop use. Investing in a good chair and desk will allow you to sit comfortably with your arms relaxed and less strain overall on your body.

2. Use Proper Keyboarding Posture

Using proper keyboarding techniques is an excellent way to stop wrist pain before it gets a chance to develop. Resting your wrists or arms on the desk can cause wrist pain to get worse. Instead, try typing like you’re playing the piano with your wrists slightly raised in the air. Avoid having your wrists sit at awkward angles or twisted inwards or outwards while typing. 

Your wrists should be slightly raised while still staying below the level of your elbows. These may seem like minute details, but the cumulative strain causes pain to develop in your wrists, shoulders, and neck over time. Laptops like the ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 reduce stress on your wrist with Quick Key functionality, allowing you to execute complex tasks by pressing one button.

3. Position Your Mouse Correctly

Your mouse’s location is another essential factor that can cause wrist pain if you’re not careful. When setting up your desk, keep your mouse close enough to the keyboard so that your elbow doesn’t have to leave your side. The further you have to reach, the more strain you’ll put on your body. 

If you use a gel mouse pad, it’s important to remember the pad should contact the bottom of your hand, not your wrists. Resting your wrist on a gel mouse pad causes strain every time you want to move your arms. When switching from your keyboard to your mouse, keep a neutral wrist position to avoid unnecessary stress.

4. Take Breaks

Giving your body a break from using the laptop can help reduce wrist pain. While typing and using a mouse may not feel strenuous during the moment, these activities add stress to your joints due to the restricted movement. Even a simple 10-second overhead stretch every 20 minutes can stop your wrists, arms, neck, and shoulders from becoming stiff. 

It’s also a good idea to switch your work area a few times a day. If you work at home, try working a few hours at your desk, then in your kitchen, and then on the couch. While some of these positions may not be ideal, adding some variety to how you work is better for your body than staying static all day.

5. Address Problems As Soon As Possible

One thing that almost everyone is guilty of is ignoring a problem and hoping it goes away. If you’re like most people and you feel a dull pain in your wrist, you’re likely not going to have a big reaction. However, being proactive will prevent your wrist pain from getting worse. 

When these symptoms go ignored for years, they can eventually develop into severe conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis. You can avoid these issues later in life simply by stretching and paying attention to posture.

6. Invest in Accessories

There are many accessories you can use to address laptop wrist pain. Investing in an ergonomic mouse is a helpful way to reduce wrist strain and pain. Ergonomic mouses put your wrist in a natural position by using a unique curved design. With an ergonomic mouse, you’ll also have a dedicated thumb rest area that provides extra support for your hand. An ergonomic mouse is a much better option than using your laptop trackpad, which forces your wrist to sit at odd angles.

A wrist rest is another accessory that will help you reduce the pain. You can comfortably keep your hands elevated at an ergonomic angle. This accessory features a rubber bottom, which prevents it from slipping while in use. The wrist rest is the perfect accessory for extended gaming or work sessions.

7. Raise Your Feet

Keeping your feet elevated is an excellent technique for improving posture and taking the strain off your body. Ideally, your feet should be flat on the floor, but this isn’t always possible without a footstool. Use a small stool or something to elevate your feet. This position will help you maintain a neutral lumbar spine and comfortably rest your arms without straining your wrists.

Jitender Singh

Jitender Singh, the owner of this site, is a technical expert, SEO expert, YouTubber and a experienced blogger by profession. He basically belongs to a middle class family in Faridabad.

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