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Ergonomic Devices Store-bought ergonomic devices may not always provide the most comfortable solution for you. Before you buy any of the following devices, try making one first and testing it out. Wrist rest: Try a rolled up hand towel, rolled bubble wrap secured with masking tape, or bag filled with rice. Foot rest: Try piled up telephone books or mail order catalogs, or a low box such as a shoe box, so you'll know the exact height you need. A rice-filled bag may also work. Back rest: Try a small pillow, rolled up towel, or rice-filled bag. Travel pillow: Try a bag filled with rice. Arm bath: Try a plastic flower box, wallpapering box, or any shallow, long, narrow, waterproof box for soaking your forearms, wrists, and hands. Cold press: Keep a few plastic bags of peas in the freezer at work and at home to use as ice packs on whatever hurts. Keep re-freezing them. Back tension reliever: Try placing a small rubber ball between your back and the wall, then lean against the wall to apply pressure to sore spots. Hold for several seconds and release. You may also want to consider ergonomic devices that you can't easily make yourself. For example: If you spend a lot of time on the telephone, consider buying a headset so you don't have to cradle the receiver in your neck. If you have difficulty using a regular mouse, an ergonomic mouse is typically larger and easier to hold. There are also trackball mice and touchpads. If you use a Mac G3, G4, or Powerbook, there are extensions you can clip to the round mouse to make it easier to hold. If you often refer to paper documents as you type, a document holder holds your paper at a comfortable eye level next to your computer. Some types attach to the side of your monitor; others are free-standing.