It is no secret that using a computer mouse a lot causes hands and wrists to ache.
This is especially true in our high tech society. It seems like a computer is required for even the most basic tasks. Because of this Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) are a common problem.
But, add the pain of arthritic fingers and wrists and using a mouse can become unbearable. Clicking buttons and moving a mouse feels impossible with arthritis.
Don’t give up though – there are solutions. I am going to help you find the best computer mouse for arthritic hands!
Video Guide: Computer Mice for Arthritic Hands
My Recommended Mice for Arthritis Suffers
To reduce the arthritis pain you feel when using a computer mouse, look for the following:
- Look for a mouse that eliminates having to grip or grasp the mouse tightly to move it
- Buttons should be easy to push and not require lifting the finger off of the mouse to operate
- If you want a mouse with a trackball for easy scrolling, choose one that doesn’t require hooking or curling the finger to operate it.
Arthritis Friendly Mouse Reviews
So, taking all of this information into account. Here are my recommended mice for people who suffer from arthritis of the hands.
Logitech MX Vertical Ergo Mouse
Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse – Advanced Ergonomic Design Reduces Muscle Strain, Control...
With the MX Vertical, Logitech literally turns the computer mouse on its side – a 57 degree angle to be precise! This angle is specifically designed to reduce pressure on the wrist. Plus it has a cradle for your thumb to make it comfortable as well.
This mouse was designed and tested using a scientifically driven process to reduce the strain of mouse usage. Every decision about its design was tested to make sure it did indeed reduce muscle strain.
So, how does this help people with arthritis?
The vertical set-up of the mouse keeps your hand, wrist, and forearm in a more natural alignment. Your wrist and forearm aren’t torqued and twisted to match the surface of your desk.
Yes, this reduces the strain on your muscles. But, it also reduces their pull on your joints – joints that already hurt, right?
Logitech also reports that your hand moves 4 times less when using this mouse.
Many arthritis sufferers feel pain in their thumbs due to repetitive use. The MX Vertical has a cradle to the side that supports and comforts your thumb. It gives it a nice place to rest without tense muscles needing to support it.
The buttons are “soft-click” too and are easy to press with less force than more standard mice. A track wheel is included too for people who like to scroll down the page that way.
A few other interesting features:
- Rechargeable battery lasts up to 4 months
- Cursor speed is adjustable at the touch of a button
- Programmable buttons
- Three ways to connect it to your computer
One problem with this product is that it is only available in a right-handed configuration – lefties, check out the next review.
Here’s a quick video that shows you some of these features.
Hippus Wireless Light Click HandShoe Mouse
This is the best wired or wireless mouse for arthritic hands.
The Handshoe Mouse from Hippus is a completely different take on the ergonomic mouse concept. Your hand literally rests right on the mouse with curved contours to fit your thumb and pinky finger.
There is no need to grasp or pinch the mouse to move it. To use a cliche, it fits like a glove. That is why this mouse comes in 3 sizes, and is right and left handed. There are also corded and wireless options.
How this Mouse Helps People With Arthritis
First, the whole hand rests on the mouse fully supporting the hand and all fingers especially the thumb, making this the best mouse for thumb pain. This keeps your fingers from being curled and floating up above the mouse where they have no support. Continually holding your finger in the air above the mouse builds tension in the joints of your fingers and wrist. However, because of the design of this mouse, the hand stays relaxed which keep joints from being stiff.
Next, this design is helpful because it allows you to click the button using the entire finger. Typically only the fingertip does most of the work pressing the button. The buttons on this mouse also click very easily requiring very little pressure. The track wheel is located right under the fingertips too. There is no need to move the fingers side to side to get to the trackwheel.
There is one caution to using this mouse. It does engage the shoulder an elbow more than a standard mouse. This isn’t a big deal unless you have severe arthritis in the shoulder or the elbow.
How to Order a HandShoe Mouse
Because this mouse is designed to fit your hand like a glove, it is important to get the right size to get the most benefit from this mouse. You must also choose a right-handed mouse or a left-handed mouse. The final choice is to decide if you want a wired mouse that plugs into your computer or a wireless mouse that works by Bluetooth.
To get the proper size (small, medium, or large), measure the distance from the bottom of the heel of your hand to the tip of your ring finger. Then, use that measurement in the chart below to order the correct mouse.
| If the measurement is between | Then order this size HandShoe Mouse |
|---|---|
| 6.1″ to 6.9″ | Small |
| 6.9″ to 7.7″ | Medium |
| 7.7″ to 8.5″ | Large |
So, once you know the size, right hand or left hand, and wired or wireless, you can click here to see all the size options on Amazon. It’s by far the best mouse for hand pain, and the best mouse for wrist pain as well.
Here’s a nice video that explains why a traditional mouse causes hand pain and walks you through how this mouse can help.
Note: This mouse has earned the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation and is the best joystick mouse for arthritis.
How This Mouse Helps
Unlike other vertical mice, this one allows the hand to completely curve around the handle. This curved grip ergonomic handle relaxes tight, painful arthritic joints and relieves the grip stress caused by many of the other vertical mouse options.
The way you move and use this mouse also is easier for people with arthritis. To use this mouse, you hold the handle like a joystick. Then, you slide the whole mouse around using large arm movements.
This is the difference. You don’t have to engage your wrist and fingers to bend a joystick shaft. With the 3M vertical mouse, the wrist is kept in a neutral position so it is helpful with arthritis in the wrist.
Finger pain is reduced because the joystick is moved with arm and shoulder movements. Simply move the entire device with a smooth, gliding motion. This is less painful than repeated wrist and finger movements.
Also, the button is located at the tip of the joystick where the thumb has easy access to it. Also, the right and left buttons are easily toggled back and forth with the thumb.
It is important to note that because the mouse uses arm and shoulder movements, it may not be a good choice for those with elbow or shoulder problems.
Also, this is a right-handed only product and comes in small and large sizes. No wireless version is available but it does come with a 6.5-foot-long cord.
Here is a video review of this mouse from an actual user:
Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse
Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse (K72359WW) Black, 3.5" x 6.1" x 8"
Sometimes a mouse just isn’t the best choice for arthritis sufferers. It is sometimes impossible to position the hands in a way that keeps the joints from hurting, so there are some alternatives to computer mouse products. Other options are trackball devices and touch pads.
This is the best overall trackball mouse for people with arthritis. Trackballs are often easier for arthritic hands. They work by rolling a large ball in the direction the user wants the mouse to go.
This can be done with the fingers or the palm of the hand. Using the palm to roll the ball is particularly helpful for those with arthritis.
The large rolling ball provides easier control of the computer cursor. It also gives you options You can use your fingertips or even the palm of your hand to move the ball. This is great for seniors with arthritis because they can find a movement that is the least painful for them.
Speaking of being able to customize the way you use the trackball, there are other customizations you can make. This trackball includes free software you can use to program the ball and the buttons to make the trackball more functional for the user.
There is also a scroll wheel on the trackball. This allows you to quickly scroll up and down web pages like this one to find what you are looking for.
Video showing how this trackball is used:
How this Mouse Can Help
Other handy features are that this trackball mouse works with either the right or left hand. It even includes a detachable wrist rest that offers a comfortably padded area that levels the wrist.
There is a bit of a learning curve to using a trackball instead of a mouse. But with practice, many people are able to control their computer as well or better than they did with a standard mouse.
So, if using a mouse is no longer feasible, consider this trackball. After the initial learning curve, it is easy – and less painful – to use. Because the buttons and speed of the ball are customized through software, this trackball mouse will benefit many arthritic computer users.
Adesso GP-160UB - Easy Cat 2 Button Glidepoint Touchpad
Adesso GP-160UB - Easy Cat 2 Button Glidepoint Touchpad (Black)
This is the best touchpad mouse alternative for arthritic hands. Touchpads are another great alternative to computer mice. Especially for those with arthritis. If you are able to point a finger or even a knuckle, you can use a touchpad.
Touchpads are basically external versions of the mouse pads that are built into many laptops today. To move the cursor, the user simply slides their finger on the screen.
To click buttons, tap the screen or the two buttons built into this unit. You can even scroll up and down pages and other advanced movements.
Here is a great video showing the advanced controls this touchpad can do:
How a Touchpad Can Help People with Arthritis
First, touchpads are simple and easy to use. You literally just slide and tap your finger on the screen to control the cursor. With some practice, these movements can be done without bending arthritic joints.
Next, a touchpad is very similar to a tablet or a smartphone in its movements. It uses many of the same swipe, pinch, and zoom gestures that these devices use.
Touchpads are also small, lightweight, and very portable. They also include 2 physical buttons for traditional right and left clicks. Just like a standard mouse.
It does require some technical know-how to get it set up. Someone who knows how to download and install driver software on computers should be available. But, it does come with a quick setup guide and USB cord. Drivers will need to be installed for it to work properly.
What is the Problem with a Standard Computer Mouse?
Because computers are becoming easier to use, many seniors are using them for the first time. Often though, those with arthritis in the hands struggle using a mouse.
Computer mice (or, is it mouses? meese? meeses? I don’t know!) position the hand in a bit of an unnatural position. The usual hand position of a mouse causes stress on the forearms, wrist, and thumb. It rotates your hand out of its natural line with your hand.
To see what I mean, do this: hold your hand and arm straight out like you are shaking someone’s hand. Feels natural with no stress on your joints, right? Now, rotate your hand 90 degrees until it is palm down. Can you now feel the stress in your forearm and wrist?
This is not the best position for a hand and wrist. Especially the long amount of time people use computers.
For arthritis sufferers, tender and swollen joints add finger and thumb pain to the problem. Clicking buttons and rolling track wheels require flexible finger movements. Put simply, this just plain hurts for people with arthritic joints.
Arthritis can also limit how far the joints move. In some cases, this can make using a standard mouse impossible. The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Association in the UK has a great article about computer use with arthritis that is worth a quick read.
So, What Are the Solutions for Pain While Using a Mouse
There are lots of suggestions out there for choosing the best computer mouse for arthritic hands. But, many of them base their recommendation on a mistaken belief: if you reduce RSI (repetitive stress injury) pain, it will help with arthritis too.
I work with seniors every day as a power wheelchair provider. Many have arthritis and I have to take that into account with their wheelchair controls. They often have to hold the joystick differently. Often, I have to come up with alternative ways to push small buttons. Because of this experience, I take a different stance.
Will an ergonomic mouse help?
Maybe?!?
A common solution floating out there in internet-land is to just go get an ergonomic mouse. But I disagree. Some “ergonomic mice” are NOT designed to help with finger and joint pain. Their main purpose is to reduce pain from RSI (repetitive stress injuries).
The goal here for the person with arthritis is to reduce the number of small joint movements that are required. Another goal is to position the hand to reduce the stress on the finger and thumb joints.
Ergonomic mice with little thumb trackballs are not the answer. The small, repetitive movements needed to keep rolling the ball will cause havoc for an arthritic thumb.
However, the Logitech MX Vertical model above does put the hand in the proper position to reduce the joint movements that hurt arthritic hands.
Summary and Recommendations
Arthritis is painful and the more you use those swollen joints the more they hurt. Using the right tools and learning about home remedies like these will help. Some even report pain relief while wearing special made gloves for arthritis and doing daily wrist exercises.
Thankfully, there are alternatives for standard computer mice for those with arthritis. I hope this information has helped you choose the best computer mouse for arthritic hands. If using a mouse with arthritis is just too painful, consider using a tablet instead.
Have you had any experience using a mouse you would like to share? Do you know of another option I haven’t considered? Leave a comment below and tell me about it, and share this post on social media with your comments for friends and family to check out!
Thanks for all the info. I have joint damage in my thumb that makes a standard mouse extremely painful as it relies too much on thumb pressure. I have avoided carpel tunnel mostly because I learned to lower my keyboard below my elbow. Very important as I have worked for over 50 years (from manual typewriters LOL) and typing was always part of the job. Now I play a lot of MMOGS as I am retired. I learned play mouse only not using the keyboard which really makes it difficult. (Guildwars 2 right now although I have also done RIFT and WOW) Would it be better to get a gaming computer than replace the mouse? Thanks for all the great help.
Hi Nancy – I don’t know much about the gaming computer part of the question (I’m not much of a gamer myself) but with regard to the mouse part of question: Would a vertical mouse that works more like a joystick be easier and less painful to use?
My problem with using a traditional mouse is that my right thumb joint (with arthritis) actually swells and locks up from my hand being in the same position most of the day. I am on a computer nearly all of the eight (8) hours that I work. I switched to a keyboard with a built in touch pad for work and that has alleviated a lot of pain (& tears) from the workday. But I don’t play as many computer games at home any more because I haven’t seen a mouse that I think would help keep that joint on my right thumb from “locking up”. I may try one of the horseshoe shaped ones you mention at the start of the article to see if that will work out for me at home.
In the hopes someone may have a recommendation…I have arthritis in my right thumb that has been aggravated by extended mouse usage. I see the different options here but am wondering if anyone has experience specific for an ergonomic option that would work well for someone doing GIS? This involves a lot of clicking and dragging, so I didn’t think a touchpad would work well. Thoughts anyone?
I have CMT (a peripheral neuropathy) that has reached my fingertips. I cannot easily do a left-click because my fingertips do not press down hard enough. Often I try so hard the mouse moves when I click–which nullifies the click. Plus, I cannot spread my fingers apart so it is very difficult to keep my other finger off the right-mouse-button.
– My thumb and hand are working, for now, so I have no problem holding the mouse and moving the cursor or using the scroll wheel. Or typing.
– Using a vertical mouse now, but not much better. I don’t need anything labeled “ergonomic.” Maybe something with an alternative to a left-click–perhaps lifting the mouse up and putting it back down. I do have big hands.
– Thank you for the opportunity to ask.