Ask HN: My left hand hurt more than my right hand while typing, why?

by nerder92 on 1/17/2022, 4:54 PM with 5 comments

I've noticed that after a long day of coding or email writing my left hand hurts considerably more than my right hand. Why is that? What can I do to fix it?

Is this something that have to do with the keyboard setup, or my style of typing?

I'm using an Apple magic keyboard.

  • by jleyank on 1/17/2022, 5:01 PM

    Are you right handed? I am and my right hand is larger/more muscular and fatigue for the weaker hand might be occurring. Or, with a normal key layout you might have more keystrokes on the left side - have you tried a Dvorak or split keyboard. Finally, is your posture and wrist angle/support the same as for your right hand? I had wrist soreness due to the extreme thinness of a previous apple/Mac keyboard (wrists were bent upwards).

  • by prirun on 1/18/2022, 12:23 AM

    It's important that your wrists stay straight. If you bend your wrists and type, it causes inflammation of the tendons. So when you see people standing up typing with their wrists bent, let them know it's not a good idea!

    If you notice your hand - either hand - starts hurting, my advice would be to rest it. Maybe you just need to take 5-minute breaks more often.