Best Ergonomic Mouse 2012

In this HandShoe Mouse review, we are going to cover a uniquely designed mouse by Hippus and arguably the best ergonomic mouse for RSI (repetitive stress injury) sufferers. You will instantly recognize its patented shape when you see it. This mouse was designed through medical research with the specific intent to address RSI and CPS (carpal tunnel syndrome) in the workplace. This is not Microsoft saying, “I am bored, I will build an Xbox” or “I am bored, let me build a mouse and call it ergonomic.” The medical research done by scientists at the Dutch medical university Erasmus put in two years of testing before putting the HandShoe Mouse out on the market. These were limited trials at the corporate level where tests and measurements were taken against other ergonomic mice. There are numerous medical publications showing that, indeed, the HandShoe mouse alleviates pain better than other mice.

Because one in six workers in the world suffer from RSI, it is a widespread problem that the HandShoe Mouse seeks to address. In Dutch, the word “HandShoe” actually means “glove” and thus Hippus wants you to know their mouse by the tagline: “the only mouse that fits like a glove.” It’s clever marketing hype, but in this rare case they actually have a winner on their hands.

The patented shape of the HandShoe mouse is unlike others on the market. First of all, the thumb gets its nice own groove to rest on. In other ergonomic mice, the thumb is always on the side of the mouse. The point of this is to keep the entire hand from touching the mouse pad, hence the “glove” fit. There is no skin contact at all, and it makes for a much more relaxed working condition when your wrist or thumb aren’t constantly rubbing your desk surface. The remaining fingers are placed on the other side of the mouse, with smaller left and right buttons that require little effort to press. This is to prevent the phenomenon known as hovering, which can cause pain in the hand all the way up to the wrist and shoulders. When you use the HandShoe mouse, you’ll feel instantly relaxed as the hand position is designed to prevent any pinching and gripping that causes RSI.

You know that Hippus is serious about ergonomics because this mouse comes in all varieties imaginable. There are three mouse sizes for small to large hands, and on top of that they offer them for right and left handed people. Most manufacturers of ergonomic mice stop at one size or neglect the left handed user, but you won’t be left in the cold with the HandShoe. It comes in wired or wireless and uses optical pointer technology for laser precision. There is also a scroll wheel that we’ve come to expect in all our mice and of course it is USB compatible.

As recently as 2010, it won the top recommendation at the Ergo Expo and is also the recipient of rewards in 8 ergonomic categories including hand, joint, wrist, and shoulder relief. For RSI or carpal tunnel sufferers who want lots of size options and a mouse that will fit them like a glove, the HandShoe is the best ergonomic mouse to get.

See larger image Hippus HandShoe M2WB Mouse Medium Right Wired Hand Black (Electronics) New From: $92.34 In Stock

Excuse the pun, but 3M’s joystick mouse is truly a joy to use as possibly the world’s best ergonomic mouse ever. 3M didn’t invent anything new, joysticks had long been invented decades ago and were popularized for video games. But no one thought to take that concept and apply it to the every day work station… until 3M’s EM550GPL and EM550GPS ergonomic mice models. 3M took that concept, tweaked it for ergonomic comfort, patented it, and developed it into a highly usable pointer–retaining all the features we’ve come to expect from a mouse.

The 3M ergonomic mouse uses a unique vertical grip design that you won’t find offered by any other mouse manufacturer, including Logitech and Microsoft. With the design, your hand and wrist are kept at a neutral angle, eliminating any chance for strain due to an awkward position. Even over prolonged use, the joystick mouse by 3M will not cause any forearm pronation or pressure on the carpal tunnel area of the wrist. Its design is in fact clinically proven through scientific research and studies to immediately reduce any pain or discomfort from RSI (repetitive stress injury) that comes from using a traditional mouse.

The problem with today’s mouse designs, including even the top ergonomic mice, is the hand position. Though manufacturers like Microsoft, Logitech and many others have gone through great lengths to add curves and angles to the hand position when gripping the mouse, the wrist is still held parallel to the table or keyboard tray and therefore not in a neutral position. Take this demonstration for example: relax your hands and drop them to your sides. Do your palms face backwards or are they turned vertical facing your sides? Because the wrist is at its most natural position vertically as you can see from this simple demonstration, the joystick design actually promotes a much more comfortable and neutral posture than a traditional ergonomic mouse. This is the secret to its flawless ergonomic design.

3M’s EM550 series joystick mouse also comes in two sizes to accommodate all hand sizes. In fact, 3M is so serious that they have even gone so far as to obtain an Ease-of-Use Commendation from the Arthritis Foundation. Their best ergonomic mouse is offered in wireless and wired capacities as well and all come with a generous two year warranty. The left and right mouse buttons sit atop the joystick and are easily accessible by the thumb. They also addressed the scroll wheel/third button by placing it on the shaft of the handle. You will not lose your coveted scrolling ability or third button clicker with the 3M mouse.

Though 3M is not usually associated as one of the top makers of ergonomic products, they have introduced a winning ergonomic mouse in the shape of a joystick. It provides an unparalleled level of comfort due to its neutral hand position with a vertical handle and still uses an optical laser to track the cursor with high precision. The buttons we’ve all come to expect from a mouse are all present–including the scroll wheel. Whether you want a wired or wireless solution to suit your needs and budgets, you can still choose between the bigger or smaller mouse size that best fits your hand. Not many manufacturers have gone through the meticulous detail as 3M has done in what is possibly the best ergonomic mouse design today: the EM550 joystick mouse.

3M Ergonomic Mouse, Optical, USB/PS2 Compatible, Large Size, Black (EM500GPL) (Electronics) List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock Used from: $36.49 In Stock

When it comes to selecting the best ergonomic mouse to suit your hand, it ends up very much like trying on a pair of shoes: what may fit or feel comfortable for one person may not necessarily feel the same for another. The designs for ergonomic mice are infinitely many, so much so that in fact that it’s hard to keep track of them all or pick out one best ergonomic mouse over the rest.

At the very least, the ergonomic computer mouse can be split into two camps: traditional mice and trackball mice. The difference between the two is that with one you must move your whole hand to move the pointer, and with the latter, you simply move your thumb. For many users who suffer from tendinitis, even while using a good ergonomic mouse and with mouse pad, might prefer an ergonomic trackball mouse since it minimizes any movements needed in the hand. It’s common medical practice that if you’ve got a piece of your body that is broken or needs healing, you keep it in a splint and suppress any movement. This applies to your finger as well.

The trackball mouse does not force you to move your hand as much but your thumb will be used quite a bit. This may take some getting used to at first. You may need to adjust your computer mouse sensitivity settings so that you can get pinpoint accuracy with the mouse pointer. It will also take some time for you to get used to the shape of the ergonomic trackball mouse and allow your thumb muscles to develop.

The actual mouse trackball itself can come in a variety of sizes and textures, so be sure to find one that offers smooth operation yet fits comfortably for the size of your hand. You would probably not like to use a trackball with a very large roller if you have small fingers, or a tiny roller with large hands. The trackball mouse will also involve slightly higher maintenance than a traditional optical ergonomic mouse due to the trackball roller collecting dust and grime. Since the mouse requires a smooth surface to properly detect roller movement, you will need to clean the ball and sensors periodically. Make sure the mouse offers an easy opening for cleaning, otherwise you may end up with a trackball mouse that jumps the pointer or a rough rolling experience. This can possibly aggravate any stress injury you may already have if you are constantly fighting against the roller.

For the best of both worlds, try a Logitech ergonomic mouse that offers trackball convenience, ergonomic styling, and a traditional mouse pointer experience. This will allow you to use the trackball with your thumb for smaller tasks and allow you to use your whole hand to move the pointer for larger tasks. Plus, switching between the two is a great way to alleviate any stress build up in any one area on your hand. The Logitech TrackMan wireless optical mouse offers the best of all ergonomic mouse technology in once package: it’s an optical mouse with laser precision accuracy, it offers cordless freedom of movement with its wireless technology, it uses a soft-touch surface and stable base for maximum ergonomic comfort, and it’s both a traditional mouse and a trackball mouse.

With many other manufacturers of ergonomic trackball mice like Microsoft and 3M available, you can also find a similarly featured trackball mouse from each brand. This will allow you to compare pricing, features, fit, and comfort so you can properly select the best ergonomic mouse for your hand.

See larger image Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball (Personal Computers) List Price: $59.99 USD New From: $44.00 In Stock Used from: $38.88 In Stock