[heatmiser]

Having developed upper back pain due to too much desk time, I switched to Logitech's MX Vertical mouse for a few years, along with moving from a typical tenkeyless to an ErgoDox (a F/OSS mechanical keyboard design). This offered relief for the pain in my upper back but a few years later I ended up developing pain in my wrist and forearm. I then move from the MX Vertical to the MX Ergo (thumb trackball) using the included spacers to make it as "vertical" as possible.

These changes, along with a proper desk chair and more awareness of my posture has given many years free of desk related pain.

I would say that fully transitioning to these peripherals did not take any longer than 1-2 weeks. I estimate I was obtained close to 70% of my baseline within a day or two and was close to 100% by the end of week 2. My suggestion is to transition one thing at a time. In my case I transitioned to the split keyboard which I found as harder to transition to compared to either the MX Vertical or MX Ergo.

I am told by various ergo-nerds that the best trackball experience is one use with your index finger, like the Ploopy Classic. I haven't been compelled to switch yet though.

[abracadaniel]

I wonder what degree of the improvements from switching keyboards and mice are due to the switch itself and not the specific device. Is there an ideal, or do we just need to sufficiently change it up once in a while?

[monotux]

I think it's only the change and nothing else.