Hi, I’ve been meaning to make a travel-friendly ergonomic keyboard setup for a couple years ago after starting /r/ergomobilecomputers, so far just been on a raised tablet setup with a regular keyboard (a setup I’ve enjoyed, but will confess I’ve some slight pain from using a standard keyboard with it)

What kinds of recovery stories have you experienced yourself or heard from others in using a certain ergomechkeyboard?

Were there things outside of having a more ergonomic setup that helped (i.e. just better sleep, diet, hygiene, mood) too?

Basically curious to hear some stories of how these things have helped fellow jank-embracers!

I did try searching around the original sub for ‘pain’ and ‘rsi’ but feel like it may be worth asking again on here.

UPDATE: Thanks again for all the stories so far both here and on the related reddit thread! Made me revise a brainstorm keyboard idea that could facilitate redirecting pinky use on the left control key + right arrow keys to something that uses the thumb + index finger instead.

  • @minusfive
    9•1 year ago

    Yeah, that’d be me. Switched to a Moonlander first to manage an RSI, went cold turkey to Colemak too. As someone else said, I wouldn’t recommend switching layouts. I like it, but I don’t necessarily think it’s worth it.

    I think the split + tenting definitely helps. Actually, scratch that: I know, because whenever I switch back to my Apple keyboards the ulnar deviation pain is obvious. But I think the fact that the switch slowed me down SIGNIFICANTLY helped, too.

    I’m deep in the rabbit hole now, though, on a Corne, as I found besides ulnar deviation, right pinkie overload was the next cause of pain. And wrist rest use (turns out you’re not supposed to use those for typing, just for resting, but no one tells you until it’s too late).

    So yeah, lots of factors, you have to honestly assess yours and address them. It’s not a straight line, you kind of have to try and see what works for you.

    • nonagoninf
      2•1 year ago

      I’m deep in the rabbit hole now, though, on a Corne, as I found besides ulnar deviation, right pinkie overload was the next cause of pain.

      Also two of Corne’s thumb keys are far too much inward 😬, known to cause thumb issues.

      • @minusfive
        1•1 year ago

        Yeah, I’ve hit some of that. Placed some relatively “less used” keys there.