I used to get RSI, then I switched to a Microsoft Natural Keyboard about a decade and a half ago (I'll be sad if this line ever goes away), and my issues went away.
At every job I've had, I find the same thing happens. I start, and have a normal keyboard. Within a few weeks the RSI is back again. I expense a Natural Keyboard, switch to it and the RSI goes away again.
This last job change was way more dramatic. They gave me a magic keyboard. Those things are a cramped, ergonomic nightmare. My RSI came back within a single day of typing on the damn thing. I had to get rid of the magic mouse for similar reasons too (arching your finger and wrist, like you need to do to tap it, is similarly bad)
I've found the Microsoft Comfort Curve 3000 to be a good hybrid between a standard keyboard and a natural one. It has the curve that puts your wrists in the better posture, without the split so it's easy to get used to, and I like that the keys don't have as much travel so you don't have to press down as hard.
Unfortunately they seem to have discontinued it. I had picked up two a few years back for $20 each on Amazon, but now they're going for $100 on Amazon and eBay which makes no sense for a basic wired keyboard. It must be because of scarce supply and high demand.
Couldn't agree more. Use both the keyboard and the mouse and have stockpiled a few extra sets. Without them, there is no way I can log 30+ hrs of Wakatime tracked programming per week. But I also know, from a previous stint in muscle rehab for my back, strength training can solve all the problems.
I went from a regular keyboard to the Microsoft Sculpt. A few year later, most people of my group at work have switched to them too.
It's not perfect: the ESC key is a flimsy little knob and I'm a heavy vim user, but you get used to it, and it's still a huge improvement over not having one.
I found that when I started using a mac mini pinkie finger started to ache so got an old ps2 ms mouse the curved soap bar type and a usb to ps adaptor I also swapped to an old zenith keyboard from 20 years ago.
This last job change was way more dramatic. They gave me a magic keyboard. Those things are a cramped, ergonomic nightmare. My RSI came back within a single day of typing on the damn thing. I had to get rid of the magic mouse for similar reasons too (arching your finger and wrist, like you need to do to tap it, is similarly bad)