Anyone find using the AMK trackpad, puts stress on your wrist?

[RedlegsFan]

I’ve used laptops before with trackpads, but for some reason, when I am using the trackpad on the new Apple Magic Keyboard, my wrist gets tired a bit from maybe the way I position it when I use the trackpad. Maybe this is just a me thing, but I am hoping I just get used to the trackpad on for the iPad... as maybe I just using to using my ipad more with my fingers, even with the old Smart Keyboard. Is anyone else having this issue?

 

[jazz1]

I thought it might just be me, using it on the couch, on tip of a "laptop desktop" that sits on my lap. I am left handed, but for some reason use my right hand for trackpads and mousing.

What I'm finding is I'm curving my right wrist to the left, and it is starting to hurt. I wonder if it is the small size of the trackpad. Please no large belly jokes

 

[chengengaun]

The trackpad is quite small, with no margin around it to rest our wrists. Using it with curved fingers and wrists gets uncomfortable after awhile. Also, it takes some force to push the trackpad to click. So now I use it on a desk so that I can position my arms and wrist straight, and turn on the tap to click feature. They make for a much more comfortable experience.

 

[Nikhil72]

Which size?

 

[chengengaun]

11”, which is really small when compared to 12.9”.

 

[0128672]

I got some wrist strain from trackpad usage for the brief time I tried out a Logitech Comb Touch this week in a chair and in bed. I think it's just difficult to control the ergonomics when not at a desk.

 

[MyAppleWorld]

Yes my hand/wrist has also been aching.
I originally thought it was nice not having my arms ache reaching for the screen but now this is just as bad!

What damage is this going to do to the wrist long term?!

I suppose the good thing about ipad is that there are different ways to use it so ergonomically we can use the most comfortable at anytime.

 

[RedlegsFan]

I thought it might just be me, using it on the couch, on tip of a "laptop desktop" that sits on my lap. I am left handed, but for some reason use my right hand for trackpads and mousing.

What I'm finding is I'm curving my right wrist to the left, and it is starting to hurt. I wonder if it is the small size of the trackpad. Please no large belly jokes

This is exactly my situation. Left handed but use my right more when using the trackpad. Using my right hand the same way a little curved to the left, etc. it’s gotten a little better, as I am getting used to this More instead of reaching towards the screen. When I used the iPad in bed before the magic keyboard, I would use my left hand thumb to kind fo scroll up and down while my hand was rested /positioned at the bottom left hand corner of the iPad,

At first I was really doubting this thing, but after a solid 24 hours it’s starting to grow on me as I get used to this new way to use the iPad.

 

[appleuserfan]

Same problem here

 

[iluvbeer99]

Class action lawsuit. the magic keyboard is ruining everyone’s wrists. Someone get on it. I’ll take the $1.99 payout.

 

[danmart]

So, I don’t have an AMK but I do have a degree in Ergonomics...

It sound like you are unconsciously moving your arms ‘back’ to use the trackpad, which is causing you to use it with a flexed wrist. You always want to keep your wrist straight when doing stuff with your fingers as the tendons pass through the metacarpal tunnel and the physiology means that, if your wrist is bent, the tendons rub on the sheath they pass through. Do this for a long time and you get inflammation which exacerbates the problem and so on...

You need to position the device so you can comfortably use both the trackpad and keyboard with straight wrists. This can be tricky with any integrated device, but the extra difficulty doing this with the iPad is that you may still want to reach the screen at some times. So that is a third item at potentially slightly different distance that you want to be able to touch.

The ‘best’ solution is to have a separate trackpad which you put to the side so that you can reach it by pivoting your arm at the elbow with no need to flex the wrist. Naturally you can’t do that with an integrated device very easily...

 

[Royksöpp]

Fells good to me. Then again, I do switch between both hands when using mice and trackpads.

 

[blaugrana69]

Has a definite impact on my wrist(s), I‘m probably a little older than the average demographic on here !
I‘ve put it down to there being less room below the keys than on a standard keyboard such as the macbook, so there’s less room to rest my hands. (I’m referring to the 12.9 inch by the way).

 

[jazz1]

On my lap i find that I’m better off using a laptop desk and resting part of my palms on the “desk”. On a real desk I find it the most comfortable.

 

[papbot]

I’ve always been uncomfortable after a certain amount of time with even my MBP’s trackpad. I switched to a Magic Trackpad or whatever it was called years ago when using my laptop. That was far more comfortable and allowed my wrist to remain straight as the trackpad was off to the side of the laptop.

With the magic keyboard I have less of a comfort issue because often my hands are closer to the screen than the trackpad so I use the screen half the time anyway. As others have mentioned I also use a lap desk that I can rest my arms/wrists on its edges and be more comfortable with using the trackpad and the screen as well.

 

[rkuo]

I’ve always had this problem with laptops and trackpads. Part of the reason I only work with them as needed (trips, etc).