fav Trackball to avoid carpal tunnel/wrist strains

[Roger Averdahl]

I bought this one and it saved my life… (I bought the black version)

RollerMouse Free2: https://ergo.contour-design.com/ergonomic-mouse/rollermouse-free2

The best hardware investment i have ever done. The issues with pain will not go away, but this one will help you out so you can work longer without issues. The first days are tricky since you move the mouse pointer with the rollerbar but once you get used to it you will not look back. 🙂

/Roger

[Kris Merkel]

I’ve been using a Wacom intuos tablet for the last 7 years and wrist strains and pains completely disappeared. This is 8 to 10 hours of work with it a day. Might want to give one a try.

“Think of everything in terms of building capacity.”

Kris Merkel
twitter: @kris_merkel
Product Manager, Flanders Scientific Inc.
http://www.shopfsi.com
Co-Founder, Atlanta Cutters Post Production User Group
http://www.atlantacutters.com

2.2Ghz MBP core i7
16Gb RAM
CS6/FCP7
AJA T-Tap
AJA IO XT
FSI LM-2461W/CM-170W

[Eddie Adams]

ive heard this tip as well. is there a difference between the Intous and Bamboo series, other than a major price difference?

[Al Bergstein]

Funny, just posted a similar question here from a different search result.

Question: Which size Wacom tablet did you get Kris? Medium seems the right choice.

Roger: seems like that keyboard add on is quite interesting.

I didn’t find the Logictec rollerball useful though.

Al

[Kris Merkel]

I’ve never used a bamboo tablet so I couldnt tell you the difference. Yes the medium is good size if you have limited desk space.

I have a 6×9 that I just retired for a 6×11 with is awesome and I also have a 4×6 on my desk at home that is used sparingly.

Unless they are mistreated they last forever so you might be able to find an intuos 3 on ebay or CL for under $100

“Think of everything in terms of building capacity.”

Kris Merkel
twitter: @kris_merkel
Product Manager, Flanders Scientific Inc.
http://www.shopfsi.com
Co-Founder, Atlanta Cutters Post Production User Group
http://www.atlantacutters.com

2.2Ghz MBP core i7
16Gb RAM
CS6/FCP7
AJA T-Tap
AJA IO XT
FSI LM-2461W/CM-170W

[Tim Jones]

I’ve used everything going, and each has it’s pluses and minuses. And none of them has actually completely alleviated RMS. What I HAVE found to be very useful is to find a therapeutic massage place and get a 25 min forearm massage 2x a month. I got turned onto this by a PT tech when I had to give up SCCA racing because of the RMS caused by 25000 (slight exaggeration there) shifts in a 43 lap road race. I’ve been doing that for over 8 years now and I’ve felt no further twinges in my hands regardless of the mouse / roller ball / track pad / tablet (or stick shift) I end up using.

Plus, it just feels really, really good!

Tim
—
Tim Jones
CTO – TOLIS Group, Inc.
https://www.productionbackup.com
BRU … because it’s the RESTORE that matters!

[Walter Soyka]

[Eddie Adams] “Mouse gave me terrible strain problems in wrist, so I switched to trackball. It helped tremendously, but I’m still deciding between two options… The M570 I’ve been using for about a month and it totally relieved the problems – but I still have discomfort in my thumb because it’s being used so much for the trackball. The Expert Mouse seems like an improvement and is more popular, but seems more strainful on the wrist and fingers.”

For trackballs, I prefer the now-discontinued Logitech Optical Cordless Trackman. It’s the most naturally positioned finger-driven trackball I’ve ever used.

The real trick to eliminating repetitive stress injuries is to eliminate the repetitive stress. Long periods of trackball or tablet will hurt just as much as long periods of mousing.

I have two mice, a trackball, and a Wacom tablet all connected to my computer at the same time. I primarily use the Wacom, but I switch up my use during the day across all devices (often depending on the task). I’m a righty, but I’ve also been learning to use a mouse left-handed as another option.

Monitor, table, and chair heights are all also important, and don’t forget to take eyestrain breaks.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[Daniel Frome]

[Roger Averdahl] “I bought this one and it saved my life… (I bought the black version)

RollerMouse Free2: https://ergo.contour-design.com/ergonomic-mouse/rollermouse-free2
“

Hey Roger,
How precise is the tracker movement on this device? You got me real curious…

[Roger Averdahl]

[Daniel Frome] “How precise is the tracker movement on this device? You got me real curious…”

I think it is very precise, but a regular mouse is better. It works for me without issues in Premiere Pro/After Effects/Photoshop/MS Word.

The difference is minor and nothing that makes me scream or annoys me. (The pain from the mouse did make me scream…)

You can actually test the product and decide if you like it or not. The call it “Buy and try”: https://ergo.contour-design.com/buy-or-try/30-day-trial

AFAIK that option is available on all their sites, iow UK/Sweden/Germany, etc, etc.

[Lenny Greaster]

I also use the Evoluent Vertical Mouse (https://www.evoluent.com/).
Like Walter I have a regular mouse, Wacom Tablet and the vertical mouse and when I feel a twinge in the ‘ol wrist I just switch up for a day. I end up using the one most comfortable for the task at hand (3d with the reg. mouse, painting/smoke with the tablet and web browsing/office with the vertical mouse).

YMMV, but take it seriously. Once you get hurt it can take a loooong time to fully recover.