The use of a gel wrist rest may be harmful to your body after prolonged use...is that true??

[CtK]

I just got an email from www.svc.com and was checking out their XTrac mouse pads and saw this Disclaimer...

WARNING - The use of a gel wrist rest may be harmful to your body after prolonged use. XTracPads and it's affiliates assume no responsibility should you become injured by using this accessory. By using this item, you assume full responsibility and acknowledge this disclaimer.

How will the gel be harmful to my body??
Is it only that particular one from XTrac or all of them??
I use one all the time at work.

 

[PlatinumGold]

the prolonged use of a MOUSE whethor or not there is a gell pad can cause injuries.

they are just probably protecting themselves.

 

[Jzero]

Maybe it's not the gel, but because it promotes lazy wrists.....I dunno for a fact, just a theory I have.

 

[Wallydraigle]

Reasearchers probably surgically implanted a gel wrist rest into the body cavity of a rat and it gave it cancer after a decade, so now they have to show the disclaimer. Bean bag chairs can also be harmful if you rip them open and inhale the filling until you choke on it.

 

[SP33Demon]

Oh yes, it can definitely be harmful for your wrists

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: Jzero
Maybe it's not the gel, but because it promotes lazy wrists.....I dunno for a fact, just a theory I have.

That's ok. The average Anandtecher more makes up for lazy wrists by using good ol' righty for something else.

 

[Turkey22]

Besides the obvious problems with mouse use in general, I'd say a gel pad would be bad if it doesnt give you the proper wrist angle. When using a mouse or keyboard you dont want your wrists to bend at all. If by using the gel pad your wrists bent then it would be putting you at risk.

 

[joinT]

They're just covering their ass. Same like Logitech with keyboards

WARNING: Some experts believe that the use of any keyboard may cause serious injury. Consult statement on the back of this keyboard.

Kinda like how McD's has to put "CAUTION: HOT!" on their coffee cups after getting sued over hot coffee

 

[dullard]

1) No scientific research has ever shown a link to injuries due to keyboards/mice. Sure some heavy computer users get injured wrists - but at the exact same rate that non-computer users injure the same wrists in the same ways.
2) Ergonomic thought is IF there was a risk then it would possibly be minimized if the wrists were kept unbent. Of course there is no evidence for this, but still it is standard practice to recommend straight wrists.
3) That warning is referring to #2 - using the gel usually means your wrists are always bent.

Conclusion: it is a legal warning to protect them from lawsuits for a reason which is unproven to save you from an injury where there is no scientific evidence that you could be injured from it.

 

[Lars]

I hope it is not true.

 

[jjessico]

Originally posted by: dullard
1) No scientific research has ever shown a link to injuries due to keyboards/mice. Sure some heavy computer users get injured wrists - but at the exact same rate that non-computer users injure the same wrists in the same ways.
2) Ergonomic thought is IF there was a risk then it would possibly be minimized if the wrists were kept unbent. Of course there is no evidence for this, but still it is standard practice to recommend straight wrists.
3) That warning is referring to #2 - using the gel usually means your wrists are always bent.

Conclusion: it is a legal warning to protect them from lawsuits for a reason which is unproven to save you from an injury where there is no scientific evidence that you could be injured from it.

You may be right regarding RSI injuries due to mouse/keyboard activities if there are no studies to prove this, however; I find that ergonomic keyboards help reduce soreness after prolonged typing (i.e. work). So these keyboards must do something to reduce stress.

Jason