Flat Is Better
Man & Machine has long believed that typing at a negative or neutral typing angle is one way to help prevent repetitive strain injury while at the workstation, and now research is confirming it. Cornell University Ergonomics Web’s research shows that conventional keyboards with a positive slope or keyboard trays with a positive slope increase the risk of muscle fatigue and injury risk.
From Cornell University Ergonomics Web:
Negative Slope Keyboard Support: An Ideal Typing Angle
In the ideal typing posture, both static and dynamic muscle loads are minimized. This posture is achieved when the keyboard is below seated elbow height and the keyboard base is gently sloped away from the user so that the key tops are accessible to the hands in a neutral posture. In this position, the arms, shoulders, neck, and back can relax, especially during brief rest pauses. Also, in this slightly reclined sitting position the low back rests against the lumbar support of the chair, the elbow angle is opened to promote circulation to the lower arm and hand, the abdominal angle, and the popliteal angle (behind the knees) are opened to promote blood circulation. The feet should rest firmly upon the floor.
Problem Postures
Typing at a keyboard on a desk is a common work posture for many computer users. In this position it is difficult to maintain the wrist is in a neutral posture, because the forearms sag as they tire and this puts the wrists into greater wrist extension. Also, most users have to work with their elbows flexed, which can compress the median and ulnar nerves at the elbow and restrict blood flow to the hands. Working with the forearms sloping up increase muscle loads in the upper arms, shoulders, and neck. Working in this position for more than 3-4 hours invariably leads to muscle fatigue.
Deviated desk typing posture
Typing at a keyboard on a conventional articulating keyboard tray can increase postural problems for users. Working with the keyboard more steeply angled on the tray is a common work posture for many computer users. In this position, it is also difficult to maintain the wrist is in a neutral posture, because the forearms sag as they tire and this puts the wrists into greater wrist extension. Studies have failed to show that conventional keyboard trays substantially improve wrist posture.
