Trackball Mice: A Great Option for People With Wrist Pain or Limited Desk Space

A trackball mouse is a pointing device where a ball is mounted on top or on the side of the mouse, and you move the cursor by rolling that ball with your thumb or fingers rather than moving the entire mouse across a desk. The body of the mouse stays completely still while you work, which means your wrist and arm do not need to make large sweeping movements.

This design makes trackball mice an excellent choice for people who experience wrist pain, have arthritis, or have limited mobility in their hands or arms. Because you are only moving your thumb or fingertips — not your whole arm — the strain on joints is significantly reduced. Physical therapists and occupational therapists frequently recommend trackballs to people who experience pain from regular mouse use.

Trackballs also require much less desk space than a regular mouse. Since the device itself does not move, you do not need a large mousepad or clear area — you can set it down on a small corner of your desk and it will work perfectly.

The two most popular styles are thumb-controlled trackballs (like the Logitech MX Ergo and M575, which range from $45 to $100) and finger-controlled trackballs where you roll the ball with your index and middle fingers (like the Kensington Expert Mouse or Slimblade, ranging from $70 to $130). Thumb-controlled versions tend to feel more natural to most beginners because the mouse shape is similar to a regular mouse.

Learning to use a trackball takes a few days of adjustment — most people feel comfortable within a week. You can connect most trackballs to your computer via a small USB receiver that plugs into any USB port, or wirelessly via Bluetooth. They work on both Windows and Mac computers with no additional software required.