If you are having a hard time finding an arthritis friendly computer mouse, don't fret. It's likely because the pain-free solution you are looking for will not actually be a "mouse".
What you really want is another kind of "pointing device" that doesn't have the same inherent problems that the mouse has for people with arthritis and joint pain.
Below, I will tell you some of the reasons why using a traditional computer mouse isn't conducive to comfortable computing, and then show you a couple of options for a pain-free computing experience.
THE PROBLEM WITH USING A MOUSE
Using a traditional mouse requires two kinds of movements that, when used in conjunction, prove to be uncomfortable for people with joint pain.For one, using a mouse requires you to keep your wrist and forearm in the position of "pronation" (palm-down). Staying pronated can add extra pressure to the muscles used to move the fingers and hand.
Pronation also puts the bones of the forearm in a twisted position that can irritate joint inflammation when used in combination with other movements.
Those other movements will be at the wrist and elbow — or even at the shoulder, which maintains the arm position for the elbow. Moving a mouse around a table top requires reaching, lifting, and rotating movements that can put unnecessary strain on the elbow joint. Especially when your forearm is pronated.
A truly "arthritis-friendly computer mouse" will be a pointing device that removes one or both of these movements by keeping your forearm in a more "neutral" position, and/or reducing movement at the wrist and elbow.
ALTERNATIVES TO A MOUSE
I have found three kinds of devices will help you eradicate the problem:An "Ergonomic Mouse"
A Trackpad
A Trackball
I'll expand on their advantages and disadvantages below.
Ergonomic Mouse
Also known as a "vertical mouse", this attempts to keep your hand in the more comfortable neutral, or "handshake" position, without having to rotate your wrist.It looks a lot like a joystick, and the button you would use to click is at the thumb instead of your fingers. However, it moves the same way a mouse does, so it's easy to get used to.
You still have to move it around the table, and lift and move it if you don't have enough table space, so this would not be a solution for those of you with pain in your elbows and shoulders.
Trackpad
The trackpad takes the opposite approach. While it doesn't eliminate wrist pronation, it does assure that your hand remains in a comfortable position at rest.You will see these built into most laptop computers today. A good desktop trackpad will have a larger surface area to fit all sized hands. It's a stationary device that sits on your table, while you run your finger over it to move the arrow on your screen.
It's very intuitive and easy to learn, especially if you use a touch smartphone or tablet like an iPhone or iPad. It removes the need to constantly lift and move your arm around, so your shoulder and elbow get a break.
Trackball
The right trackball attempts to address both problems at once.Like the trackpad, the trackball is a stationary device that sits on your desk so that you don't have to move your elbow or shoulder. Instead of moving your finger around a surface, you roll a ball around to control the arrow on your screen.
Older trackballs used to require moving your entire hand around on a huge ball, which didn't have any benefit except to save desk space. Newer ones, however, use a better ergonomic design that keeps your hand in an only "partially-pronated" position, to take the strain off your wrist.
The main disadvantage, however, is that the more ergonomically designed trackballs require you to use your thumb to move the ball. Some people will find this awkward and difficult to get used to. With time and practice, however, it can eventually become easy and intuitive.