What is an Ergonomic Mouse Pad?

The evolution of the computer mouse has been closely followed by the evolution of the mouse pad as well. This means that with the emergence of the ergonomic mouse, ergonomic mouse pads followed shortly after. But prior to discussing the qualities such an accessory needs to have, we should pinpoint and clarify certain details.

What is an ergonomic mouse pad?  In order to figure this one out, you just need to understand the meaning of the word ergonomic. To put it simply: when something is designed for maximum efficiency and comfort in the working environment, you can say it has an ergonomic shape.

So an ergonomic mouse pad should be shaped in such a way that offers great comfort but it doesn’t diminish the movement capabilities and their efficiency. In other words, you need to have your hand in the right position without putting any strain on it so you can achieve the required precision. When moving the mouse, your hand should not suffer any fatigue. There are three things you should take into consideration: Wrist position, the level of support, and the overall build quality.

Wrist position

Considering that many people spend their entire workdays in front of a computer, it is safe to say that a mouse usage safety guidelines are a real thing that you should at least get yourself familiar with, if not follow. Often when people get asked what is an ergonomic mouse pad and why do they need it, they offer partially true answers because they don’t know the true reasons. It’s all about the wrist position. The mouse pad needs to offer a place where you can rest your wrist in such a way that the entire palm is free to move. The palm should be mobile without it and the wrist ever getting on the same surface. This frees up your hand to perform detailed movements without suffering any strain. And if you for a second think this is a bogus subject, consider this: you can get tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome from prolonged improper mouse usage.

The level of support

Again, coming back to the question what is an ergonomic mouse pad, we come to the factor that creates the largest number of varieties of these products. This variety mostly comes in the form of the softness of padding and/or in the size of the supporting part. The softness and thickness of the padding are an individual thing and you don’t have to spend a lot of time figuring that one out, you just pick the one that fits you the most. The size of the supporting part can be tricky and you need to pay attention to what part of the hand is actually resting on the padded portion. If your hand is resting on a narrow padding, it can cause the same amount of discomfort as if you were using the regular mouse pad.

Overall build quality

This segment doesn’t actually answer the question what is an ergonomic mouse pad, but it can be the deciding factor when picking one. Consider that your hand could likely spend thousands of hours on this thing and the quality of the material, adhesive part, the texture, and durability play significant roles.

The Conclusion

These products are not usually pricey and you can afford to get picky with them. But if you want to make a right decision (not talking about the appearance) the short answer to what is an ergonomic mouse pad is this; It is a mouse pad that offers good wrist support while keeping the hand in the optimal angle and at the optimum height, and is built to feel comfortable. Sounds simple enough?