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Maltron Ergonomic Keyboards
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  • Training
    • Single Left Hand >
      • Left hand exercise 1
      • Left hand exercise 2
      • Left hand exercise 3, 4a, 4b
      • Left hand exercise 5
      • Left hand exercise 6a & 6b
      • Left hand exercise 7
      • Left hand exercise 8
      • Left hand exercise 9
      • Left hand exercise 10
      • Left hand exercise 11a & 11b
      • Left hand exercise 12
      • Left hand exercise 13
      • Left hand exercise 14
      • Left hand exercise 15
      • Left hand exercise 16
      • Left hand exercise 17
      • Left hand exercise 18
      • Left hand exercise 19
      • Left hand exercise 20a & 20b
      • Left hand exercise 21
      • Left hand exercise 22
      • Left hand exercise 23
      • Left hand exercise 24
      • Left hand exercise 25
      • Left hand exercise 26
      • Left hand exercise 27
      • Left hand exercise 28
      • Left hand exercise 29
      • Left hand exercise 30
      • Left hand exercise 31
      • Left hand exercise 32
      • Left hand exercise 33
      • Left hand exercise 34 Numbers
      • Left hand exercise 35 - Numbers
      • Left hand exercise 36 - Final
    • Single Right Hand >
      • Right hand exercise 1
      • Right hand exercise 2
      • Right hand exercise 3, 4a, 4b
      • Right hand exercise 5
      • Right hand exercise 6a & 6b
      • Right hand exercise 7
      • Right hand exercise 8
      • Right hand exercise 9
      • Right hand exercise 10
      • Right hand exercise 11a & 11b
      • Right hand exercise 12
      • Right hand exercise 13
      • Right hand exercise 14
      • Right hand exercise 15
      • Right hand exercise 16
      • Right hand exercise 17
      • Right hand exercise 18
      • Right hand exercise 19
      • Right hand exercise 20a & 20b
      • Right hand exercise 21
      • Right hand exercise 22
      • Right hand exercise 23
      • Right hand exercise 24
      • Right hand exercise 25
      • Right hand exercise 26
      • Right hand exercise 27
      • Right hand exercise 28
      • Right hand exercise 29
      • Right hand exercise 30
      • Right hand exercise 31
      • Right hand exercise 32
      • Right hand exercise 33
      • Right hand exercise 34 Numbers
      • Right hand exercise 35 - Numbers
      • Right hand exercise 36 - Final
    • 3D 89 Qwerty Introduction >
      • 3D 89 QWERTY - Posture
      • 3D 89 QWERTY - Finger Positions
      • 3D 89 QWERTY - General Instructions
      • 3D 89 QWERTY - Numbers 1
      • 3D 89 QWERTY - Numbers 2
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Rows & Columns for Fingers
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Finger layout & keyboard use
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Finger muscle relaxation
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 1a
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 1b
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 1c
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 2a
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 2b
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 2c
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 2d
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 3a
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 3b
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 3c
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 4a
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 4b
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 4c
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 5a
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 5b
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 5c
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 6a
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 6b
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 6c
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 7
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 8a
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 8b
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 9a
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 9b
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 10
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 11
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 12
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 13
      • 3D 89 QWERTY Exercise 14
    • 3D 89 Maltron Introduction >
      • 3D 89 Maltron - Posture
      • 3D 89 Maltron Finger Positions
      • 3D 89 Maltron - General Instructions
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 1
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 2
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 3
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 4
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 5
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 6
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 7
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 8
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 9
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 10
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 11
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 12
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 13
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 14
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 15
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 16
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 17
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 18
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 19
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 20
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 21
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 22
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 23
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 24
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 25
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 26
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 27
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 28
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 29
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 30
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 31
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 32
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 33
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 34
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 35
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 36
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 37
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 38
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 39
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 40
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 41
      • 3D 89 Maltron Exercise 42 & 43
    • 3D 90 QWERTY Introduction >
      • 3D 90 QWERTY - Posture
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Finger Positions
      • 3D 90 QWERTY General Instructions
      • 3D 90 QWERTY - Numbers 1
      • 3D 90 QWERTY - Numbers 2
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Rows & Columns for Fingers
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Key Layout & Finger Use
      • 3D 90 QWERTY - Finger Muscle Relaxation
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 1a
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 1b
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 1c
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 2a
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 2b
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 2c
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 2d
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 3a
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 3b
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 3c
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 4a
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 4b
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 4c
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 5a
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 5b
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 5c
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 6a
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 6b
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 6c
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 7
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 8a
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 8b
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 9a
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 9b
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 10
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 11
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 12
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 13
      • 3D 90 QWERTY Exercise 14
    • 3D 90 Maltron Introduction >
      • 3D 90 Maltron - Posture
      • 3D 90 Maltron - Finger Positions
      • 3D 90 Maltron General Instructions
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 1
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 2
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 3
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 4
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 5
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 6
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 7
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 8
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 9
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 10
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 11
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 12
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 13
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 14
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 15
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 16
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 17
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 18
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 19
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 20
      • 3D 90 Maltron Unit 3 Intro & Ex 21
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 22
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 23
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 24
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 25
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 26
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 27
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 28
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 29
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 30
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 31
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 32
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 33
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 34
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 35
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 36
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 37
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 38
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 39
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 40
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 41
      • 3D 90 Maltron Exercise 42 & 43
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Ergonomic Factors in Maltron Design


Static Strain
Static strain is holding a muscle contracted for a long time. The contracted muscle may put pressure on the local blood vessels (according to the individual's anatomy). A reduced blood supply can cause fatigue and a build up of lactic acid in the muscle. A contracted muscle can also put pressure on blood vessels, tendons and nerves that pass through or near it. The result is that the these suffer too - sometimes from poor blood supply. Sometimes nerves and tendons suffer from excessive wear and tear when the nerves or tendons pass through to another part of the body that is moving while the contracted muscles are putting pressure on them! (This often happens in the wrist's carpal tunnel). Low level discomfort is typical. In most cases the body removes excess lactic acid and heals any light damage quickly when you rest. The danger starts when the strain is present all day and persistent across the working weeks and months.

Note that the anatomy of people does vary slightly from person to person so nerves that pass through one muscle in one person may pass outside that muscle on another person, likewise the blood vessels. Thus the results of static strain will vary from person to person. Also some people get better rest than others so a good night's sleep might remove the problem for one person but not another. People vary so if you are in pain you should be talking to a doctor who can attend to the details. Static strain is nonetheless a bad thing. Hand diagram showing finger tendons, median nerve and carpal tunnel

The flat keyboard causes static strain in the typical user. It causes static strain at the top of the arm in the shoulders, it causes static strain near the wrists in the lower arm as the hands are turned flat and in then turned to line up straight on the flat keyboard. It causes static strain as the middle fingers are curled up tightly and the little fingers are straightened out to touch the home-row keys.

Other causes of static strain in the office include eye strain from looking at near objects for long periods without a break (that would be the screen to you and me) and neck strain if you have to twist your head to see the screen.

A simple technique for reducing static-strain problems is to fidget and take little breaks to move and stretch and encourage good blood circulation at least every hour. When they told you to sit still they were not thinking of your health! Good posture is also important, in any case the standard flat keyboard will always be your enemy.

Cold fingers, cold hands or tingly fingers is a common sign that the blood supply to the hands is - perhaps - weaker than normal. This may be normal for you BUT it does indicate that extra care to ensure a healthy blood supply to the hands should be taken. Tingly fingers is particularly interesting and should be reported to your doctor or physiotherapist.

 



Picture
Wrist Pronation (Turning the palm downward)
Wrist pronation occurs with the normal flat keyboard because the keyboard is horizontal. Typically a hand has to be turned to make the palms go flat, this turning is mostly done above the wrist with the bones of the forearm doing most of the rotation (the forearm bone on the thumb side is called the radius, the forearm bone on the little finger side is called the ulna). This turning is called pronation and it means that when using the flat keyboard you are using forearm muscles - more or less - all of the time, without any proper rest. Pronation from using a flat keyboard will produce tiredness in those muscles involved, it will also increase the pressure on surrounding tissues and reduce circulation. (Circulation is good for a supply of oxygen and removal of the products of muscle activity, reduced circulation is not a good thing.)

The aim to reduce wrist pronation was one of the reasons behind the MALTRON keyboard being designed with the sides being separated.

 

Wrist Adduction (also known as Ulnar Deviation)
Wrist adduction occurs with a normal flat keyboard because the rows are straight and the fingers don't line up on these straight rows unless the wrist is rotated. This rotation, where the wrist rotates the thumb and forefingers forward while the palm is faced down, is called adduction (so named because when the palms are faced up the hand moves to the centre). This adduction is required for most of the time that you are using a flat keyboard and means that the muscles involved will not be getting proper rest on a flat keyboard. To reduce adduction the MALTRON keyboard has split the keyboard into two halves so that you do not need to bring your hands together in the middle.

 

Upper Arm Rotation
Upper arm rotation occurs because the hands have to come close together in front of the body. To do this your upper arms rotate a little and bring the forearms closer to the middle. This uses muscles at the top of your arms, in your shoulders and in your neck. These muscles are used all the time and may easily cause shoulder and neck discomfort when a normal flat keyboard is used. As for wrist adduction, splitting the keyboard into two halves so that your hands do not have to go so far into the middle reduces upper arm rotation.

Copyright (c) PCD Maltron Ltd.  UK Company Registration: 01309051  UK VAT Number: 347344351