Best Mouse for Tennis Elbow
[amazon table=”4041″]Today we’re counting down our top picks for the best mouse for tennis elbow.
In a society that increasingly leans on technology, more and more of us are required to spend long days sitting at a desk using a computer.
While this may be unavoidable, the development of RSI (Repetitive Stress Injuries) such as tennis elbow or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is something you can avoid.
If you’re willing to invest in your wrist and elbow health, then it’s in your best interests to look into buying ergonomic accessories for your computer.
One such accessory that can significantly reduce the risk of tennis elbow is an ergonomic mouse.
Here are our top picks…
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
[amazon box=”B07FNJB8TT” title=”Logitech MX Vertical” description=”The Logitech MX Vertical is an excellent choice if you’re willing to try out a vertical mouse, as it has a top ergonomic design that should help you reduce the risk of developing an RSI like tennis elbow.”]⭐ Our Other Top Picks for Mouse for Tennis Elbow
- Best of the Best: Logitech MX Vertical
- Runner Up: Logitech MX Ergo
- Best on a Budget: J-Tech Vertical Mouse
Best Mice for Tennis Elbow Reviews
Logitech MX Vertical (👑 Best of the Best)
The first of two Logitech mice in this guide, the MX Vertical is our top pick for lessening the risk of developing tennis elbow while using a computer.
Logitech is a top brand with an outstanding reputation for producing high-quality computer accessories, such as keyboards and mice. The MX Vertical is no exception, and is an excellent attempt from the company at producing an ergonomic mouse that’s comfortable to use and capable of preventing RSIs.
As a vertical mouse, it’s worth bearing in mind that there’ll likely be a learning curve to fully get to grips with the MX Vertical, especially if like us you’re mostly familiar with the standard horizontal mouse design. With that said, it shouldn’t take long to adjust to this style of mouse, not least because it’s designed to be used in a more natural position. The vertical mouse has you assume a natural handshake position, with your fingers and thumb wrapping around the mouse as if it were a joystick. The MX Vertical goes a step further than many vertical mouse, though, as it features an adjustable angle which goes as high as 57-degrees. This allows the user to find the sweet spot at which the mouse is most comfortable to use for extended periods of time.
One good reason to trust that the MX Vertical will be effective for preventing injuries such as tennis elbow is the extensive user testing that the brand carried out for the product. The mouse was tested by leading ergonomists, factoring in everything from the best ways to improve user posture, to how best to lower muscle strain and take pressure off the wrists. One of the features which helps accomplish these goals is the advanced optical tracking. This tracking style is coupled with a dedicated cursor speed switch, which for the layman means you will move your hand 4x less than you would with a standard mouse. The cursor speed and accuracy can also be modified in the Logitech Options software, so you can set it to suit your preferences. The benefit of this reduced movement should be obvious – you will be less prone to suffering from injuries like tennis elbow which are caused by repetitive movements in awkward positions.
It isn’t just the features of the MX Vertical that make it suitable for preventing tennis elbow though, but also the design of the mouse. As you’ll see from the product image, this isn’t your ordinary mouse. It has a sleek design, which is curved and textured, for user comfort. The MX Vertical was created with the human hand in mind, and as a result, should feel comfortable to hold and use. The unique visual of the mouse included its textured rubber grip, which also serves a practical purpose – to prevent slipping and encourage a firm and solid grip at all times.
There’s a lot more to this mouse, too, in the way of exciting software such as Logitech Flow which allows the user to switch between three devices with this one mouse. As well as fast recharging which allows you to use the mouse for up to three hours on just a minute’s worth of charging, so you should never have the mouse die on you in the midst of an important work project. Finally, there’s a premium scroll wheel, which has a middle click and will allow you to read web pages smoothly and quickly.
Features:
- Vertical mouse
- Adjustable angle up to 57 degrees
- Advanced optical tracking
- Logitech Options software
- Ergonomic design with textured rubber grip
- Logitech Flow software
- 4000 DPI
- Cursor speed switch
- Premium scroll wheel with middle click
- Quick recharging
- Multiple connect options
Logitech MX Ergo (🥈 Runner Up)
The second of the Logitech mice in this guide is the aptly-named MX Ergo, which is all about ergonomics, and user comfort.
The MX Ergo is an interesting proposition, as it combines design elements from a vertical mouse with those of a trackball mouse to make one ultra-ergonomic device. If you’re not familiar with a trackball mouse, then imagine if a mouse were to have a large built-in ball in place of a scroll wheel and you’ll be on the right track. The advantage of combining the vertical mouse and the trackball mouse is that you get the best of both styles, which should in theory make for the perfect ergonomic device.
Logitech claims that its device delivers ‘20% less muscular strain’ when compared with standard mice. It lives up to this lofty claim with a number of ergonomic features. The first noteworthy feature is the adjustable angle between 0 and 20 degrees. This, like the MX Vertical, gives you some variety in how you use the mouse and allows you to accommodate your preferences. Then, the mouse has advanced tracking like the MX Vertical and a precision mode button which lets you adjust the speed and accuracy of the cursor to give you the most control over your movements.
There’s also a precision scroll wheel with tilt, so you can more quickly access your preferred shortcuts. You can even scroll horizontally with the wheel, so you can move around a web page conveniently. In addition to the scroll wheel you’d expect on a standard mouse, you have the large trackball which is both removable and easy to clean. This ball is ideal if you need to navigate web pages for a long time, as it allows for smooth movement with your thumb, rather than having your finger do all the work with the scroll wheel.
Features:
- Vertical mouse with trackball
- Adjustable 20-degree angle
- Advanced tracking
- Precision mode button
- Scroll wheel with tilt
- Access to Logitech Flow software
- Quick charging
J-Tech Vertical Mouse (⭐ Best on a Budget)
If you’re on a budget but you still want to do your best to avoid RSIs like tennis elbow, the J-Tech vertical mouse is a fantastic option.
The J-Tech mouse is an odd-looking device, that looks much less like a standard mouse than the two from Logitech. However, don’t be fooled by its strange shape, this mouse is an excellent option if you prioritize ergonomics and comfortable computer use.
This mouse from J-Tech has the ergonomic advantage of being a vertical device, which automatically makes it a better option for user comfort than the standard horizontal mouse. The main benefit of the design is that you can hold the mouse as if it were a joystick, which is a more natural way of holding your arm and wrist. This will put less stress on your wrists, elbows, and fingers, so you should enjoy a more comfortable experience of using the mouse. The device is also larger in size and slightly chunky, which makes it suitable for many hand sizes.
The mouse also includes a palm rest, which can easily be detached if you don’t want to use it. This palm rest gives your hand a natural place to relax, which can be a relief especially when you have to use the mouse for long periods of time. Then there’s the conveniently-placed buttons, such as the ‘back’ and ‘forward’ buttons which are operated using the thumb. By separating the buttons out like this it prevents the need to overstretch the fingers to reach for a button, which can cause discomfort over time. These thumb buttons are easily reconfigured too, in case you want to map other functions to them for your convenience.
Optical tracking technology provides greater sensitivity for movement, which means you shouldn’t have to make large movements with the mouse. As a result, you shouldn’t have as many issues with RSIs, because you will be making fewer movements overall. You can also adjust the DPI of the mouse which means you can adjust the speed at which the cursor moves to suit your preferences.
Features:
- Vertical mouse
- Removable palm rest
- Adjustable DPI
- Thumb buttons
- Blue LED trim
- 1-year manufacturer warranty
Ultimate Guide
To get the best mouse to avoid tennis elbow, you’ll need to factor in your personal preferences.
The kinds of factors you’ll need to consider are what type of mouse you’d be comfortable using, what design you prefer, and what kinds of features you’d use.
Here’s an overview of what we believe are the most important factors for choosing a mouse for tennis elbow.
Type of Mouse
While the majority of us only know of the horizontal standard mouse, there are actually a large variety of mouse types – most of them optimized for ergonomics – so let’s take a look at two of the best.
Vertical
The vertical mouse is most popular among those looking for a highly ergonomic design.
The natural handshake position it encourages helps you avoid things like forearm pronation, and undue stress on the wrist and fingers.
As a result, it should feel much more natural to use and should lower the risk of you developing RSIs like tennis elbow.
Trackball
The trackball style mouse is ergonomic too, and typically has you using your thumb to scroll, to take pressure off the fingers.
That being said, you can get finger-operated trackball mice too, but in both cases you should feel more comfortable scrolling than with a wheel.
You won’t need to constantly rotate your wrist with a trackball, as it simply requires the smallest of movements with either your finger or thumb.
Design
The design of a mouse tells you a lot about how comfortable it will be to use, so pay attention to the following features.
Ergonomics
If you want to avoid tennis elbow, you’ll need a mouse that’s optimized for ergonomics.
What that means if you want to find one that is designed with user comfort in mind.
This encompasses a whole range of design and software features, all intended to prevent injury from mouse use.
By making yourself aware of how you tend to use a mouse, you can use the knowledge to find the perfect ergonomic device for you.
Adjustable Angle
If a mouse has an adjustable angle, you will be able to set it up to the perfect position for comfortable use.
This can allow you to find the most natural operating position, which should encourage healthy posture and prevent injury.
Textured Grip
If the device has a textured grip or something similar, then the chances of it slipping while in your hand are significantly reduced.
This is necessary for some mice, as you don’t want to have it slipping and sliding over the desk surface as you’re trying to use it.
Features
Beyond the design, the features of a mouse provide the main indication of how ergonomic it will be to use.
Thumb Buttons
Thumb-operated buttons are a staple of many ergonomic mice, and they are good because they take pressure off the fingers.
With many vertical mice, you will hold them as if they were joysticks, and your thumb will be conveniently placed on one side of the device.
So, it’s only natural that with many vertical devices there be a button where your thumb is.
This feature can be even better if the button is customizable, as this will give you even more options to tailor the mouse to you.
Tracking
Ideally you want optical tracking for your mouse, as this will translate to smoother cursor movement on the screen and a better interpretation of your hand movements.
With mice such as the MX Vertical, you have advanced optical tracking which significantly reduces the amount you need to move the mouse for it to register on the computer.
As a result, you will be less prone to developing an RSI, because you won’t be moving the mouse quite as much as you would with a standard device.
Palm Rest
A palm rest, like that one which the J-Tech mouse comes with, can be useful for giving your wrist a break during a long period of mouse use.
If you work at a desk all day then this can be a valuable accessory to have, which can ensure you are comfortable and decrease the likelihood of injury.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mice for Tennis Elbow
Can using a mouse cause tennis elbow?
Yes, using a mouse can indeed cause tennis elbow.
While this might seem strange given the sports-specific name of the injury, tennis elbow is just the name tennis players give to the repetitive stress injury, which could also be called computer elbow, mouse elbow, or a number of other things.
This type of injury is caused as a result of gripping and squeezing, which puts stress on the tendons in the elbow.
What is the best mouse to use for tendonitis?
We believe that the best mouse to use for tendonitis is the MX Vertical from Logitech.
Vertical mice are designed in a way that’s ergonomic for the user, since they promote a natural wrist and arm position which should keep the joints and tendons comfortable during use.
The natural handshake position is backed up by the mouse’s adjustable angle, which lets you find the perfect position to use the mouse in for your comfort.
Are vertical mice better for you?
There is a lot to be said for using a vertical mice, especially if you are worried about RSIs such as tennis elbow and tendonitis.
The repetition of movements when it comes to using a computer is almost impossible to avoid, but by making adjustments like switching to a vertical mouse, you can ensure that you interact with it in the healthiest way possible.
With a vertical mouse your fingers will be supported, there will be no forearm pronation, and the stress will be taken off your wrist.
A Final Word from Wellness Nova
If you need to spend a lot of time at a desk typing away and using a mouse, it’s in your best interest to look into the most ergonomic accessories.
By investing in a good mouse, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing tennis elbow over time, which is an investment worth making.
