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Exercise/stretch your hands or you'll regret it.

A

Alvarez

Banned
Though younger gamers may not be able to relate to this (yet), they should still get started. Exercise/stretch your hands often--every day--or you will inevitably begin to experience hand and wrist problems as early as your 20s.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=carpal+tunnel+exercises&sm=3

While these exercises are specifically for carpal tunnel syndrome, they will help prevent and reduce any repetitive use hand/wrist problem.

Take this seriously! There are times where I want to game and I can't because of wrist pain. It sucks! Don't let it happen to you.

And to inspire some discussion: Who here has experienced more hand/wrist fatigue using the keyboard than using a traditional gamepad? How about the other way around?
 
Alvarez said:
Though younger gamers may not be able to relate to this (yet), they should still get started. Exercise/stretch your hands often--every day--or you will inevitably begin to experience hand and wrist problems as early as your 20s.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=carpal+tunnel+exercises&sm=3

While these exercises are specifically for carpal tunnel syndrome, they will help prevent and reduce any repetitive use hand/wrist problem.

Take this seriously! There are times where I want to game and I can't because of wrist pain. It sucks! Don't let it happen to you.

And to inspire some discussion: Who here has experienced more hand/wrist fatigue using the keyboard than using a traditional gamepad? How about the other way around?
Click to expand...

I've been on both sides of the pain.

In the 2000s, I became addicted to computer roguelikes and played hundreds upon hundreds of hours of Angband and Adom. Eventually had to quit because of the pain, because those games require a lot of your hands.

Then I switched to consoles and eventually started getting cramps after holding the controller for too long.

Nowadays I don't play that as many games as I did in my youth so I rarely feel any pain; exercising my hands helped too.
 
I worry about osteoarthritis - we'll see what happens in the future when people have played games regularly for 50+ years
 
When I was a kid my parents took me to the doctor because my fingers hurt. He told me I had "nintendo thumb". LOL they still give me shit for it 25 years later.
 
Just get deep tissue massages and get the knots out, good as new. Or, listen to doctors and get weird wrist wraps that make your wrists immobile and take pain killers all day. Nobody is going to take this post seriously. That'll suck when they become essentiially crippled by 50 or 60 if they use computers or games too much. But yeah this an actual fix/cure.
 
Had to basically quit PC gaming because of pain/discomfort I get while playing. I can play slower-paced games or games where I'm able to use a controller, but I can't do Diablo III any longer. Sucks.

w00zey said:
When I was a kid my parents took me to the doctor because my fingers hurt. He told me I had "nintendo thumb". LOL they still give me shit for it 25 years later.
Click to expand...

I always think of "Nintendo Thumb" as rubbing your thumb raw from playing.
I've been getting what I called "Nintendo Thumb" a lot lately playing Resogun. My left thumb is pretty raw from playing several hours of that :P
 
I sometimes get sharp pains throughout my left hand randomly. To the point to where I just grab my hand and rub out of instinct.
 
I used to have a lot of wrist trouble in my late teens due to a multitude of factors that left me predisposed towards wrist problems until I learned something very important at a jazz guitar workshop:

Any action capable of causing injury due to repetitive stress should be done in a way that produces as little resistance as possible. For keyboard and mouse users this mostly comes down to good posture and good typing technique (if you're planning on spending a lot of time typing, touch typing is a must) so that you are not contorting your wrist in any significant way to type. With a controller, this just means positioning your hands in such a way that they're supporting the controller easily and that the mass of the controller isn't weighing on them every time you move the analog stick or something.
 
I'm 39 and WASD and years of shooters has done quite a number on my left hand. It's a horribly contorted hand position. My pinky gets sore as well holding down Ctrl for crouch.

I still do it though.... =/

Controllers are fine for me.
 
I had some wrist issues when I first starting working professionally in my early twenties (desk job). It has seemed to have ease up because I know have better arm/wrist posture when typing and use a ergonomic mousepad and wrist rest. As for gaming, it can for sure contribute to my pain, but my day job (where I'm on a computer ~8 hours a day) is much worse. However, as a gamer I realize that day job + frequent gaming can will contribute to wrist problems.

Maybe I should invest in one of these powerball things. They any good?
 
Keyboard use blew out both my wrists (well more specifically tendons) about 12 years ago, I had to stop work for 9 months - this is what happens if you work with computers and then program as a hobby in the evenings. It was so bad when it kicked in that I couldn't drive a car, couldn't even lift a pint glass without pain.

Even now I can't use a non-ergo keyboard for more than 30 minutes, with ergo I'm fine as long as it's not a full typing day at work. Control pads only give me a problem if I'm holding triggers down for an extended period.

Advice given to me which you should all remember - if you get any pain at all - STOP. Don't pop painkillers or try to work through it - STOP. That same friend who gave me this advice didn't stop, and he 15 years down the line is still having to use speech recognition software to work.
 
Fantasmo said:
Just get deep tissue massages and get the knots out, good as new. Or, listen to doctors and get weird wrist wraps that make your wrists immobile and take pain killers all day. Nobody is going to take this post seriously. That'll suck when they become essentiially crippled by 50 or 60 if they use computers or games too much. But yeah this an actual fix/cure.
Click to expand...
Alright, I'll take it seriously.

Your post is essentially advocating a treatment that has failed to clearly establish that it has any significant medical benefit. Your post then goes on to inaccurately summarize the work of doctors.

People should ignore your post. As a bare minimum, people should seek treatments that have proven that they are actually treatments within the context of the scientific method.
 
Dr Dogg said:
Or just get a PowerBall. For someone that spends the better half the day typing it comes in dead handy.
Click to expand...

I have owned several over the years (they tend to wear out quite fast, but most models are rather affordable) and I love how my hands feel afterwards. I even got one of those more expensive heavy metal ones, but these are a bit too hardcore for me to be honest.

But yeah, RSI is one of those things I really need to pay more attention to. I´m a professional illustrator, so I use my hands and wrists quite a lot... thankfully, at least so far, gaming seem to be stressing my hands differently than drawing does.

I haven´t been using a traditional mouse for many years, though, since my Wacom has completely replaced the mouse. I personally think that mice are a complete ergonomic nightmare - especially clicking. When I was younger I used to play some mouse-heavy PC titles once in a while, and even then I could feel the mouse wreaking havoc on my hands.

It´s a shame that the 3DS is my favourite system, that thing (as well as any handheld, really) was never designed to be played intensely for hours. My hands have never felt worse after those two weeks of being completely addicted to Monster Hunter, even with the shitty circle pad attached. Never again.

I´m really curious what the long-term consequences of our current state of heavy technology use is going to be, not just gaming and hands, but general usage of smartphones, laptops and tablets. The way I see some people hunch over their laptops hurts by just looking at it.
 
Timeaisis said:
I had some wrist issues when I first starting working professionally in my early twenties (desk job). It has seemed to have ease up because I know have better arm/wrist posture when typing and use a ergonomic mousepad and wrist rest. As for gaming, it can for sure contribute to my pain, but my day job (where I'm on a computer ~8 hours a day) is much worse. However, as a gamer I realize that day job + frequent gaming can will contribute to wrist problems.

Maybe I should invest in one of these powerball things. They any good?
Click to expand...

They're fantastic. They're not a silver bullet though. Strongly recommend them...after doing a couple of reps with my powerball I feel like I can type 150 words per minute lol.

I have this one.

It can be a bit intense and I'd recommend one of the plastic ones that light up. They're just cooler to look at (they light up! haha) and you can get a great workout with them without feeling like it's going to take your hand off
 
Timeaisis said:
I had some wrist issues when I first starting working professionally in my early twenties (desk job). It has seemed to have ease up because I know have better arm/wrist posture when typing and use a ergonomic mousepad and wrist rest. As for gaming, it can for sure contribute to my pain, but my day job (where I'm on a computer ~8 hours a day) is much worse. However, as a gamer I realize that day job + frequent gaming can will contribute to wrist problems.

Maybe I should invest in one of these powerball things. They any good?
Click to expand...

I've been using them for about 5 or so years and they are awesome. My right arm from finger tips to shoulder has been battered to hell and back. Fractured my wrist when I was 11, chipped a chunk of my elbow (performing a diving save ala Gordon Banks) which results in trapping my ulner never in my elbow which cause my ring and little finger to go numb for hours on end and due to a lifelong obsession with golf have ground my cartilage from my shoulder joint. If it wasn't for the non impact nature of a hand gyroscope I wouldn't have much fun with any of those joints.

Great for recovery and recuperation as well as strength building and help treating a RSI or CTS. Well worth the £15. Plus there's always the competitive score aspects of it as well. Beating your previous rpm rate or a bit of friendly rivalry with friend, family, coworkers or your partner is always a laugh.

That and the neon ones look solo purrty in the dark when they light up.

magnetic said:
*snip*
Click to expand...

Hahaha what a freaky coincidence as I've been to the ends and back of the Pre Press Publishing trade for the last 13 years. Though I'm sat in InDesign now more than anything so arm movements are to a minimum but when your using a tablet daily or even at a drafting table for 8+ hours a day it plays constant havoc on your wrist! as I'm sure you're aware.

Funnily the 9 guys and girls I work with all have got a Power Ball or 4 as do quite a lot of the editorial department.
 
Fugu said:
Alright, I'll take it seriously.

Your post is essentially advocating a treatment that has failed to clearly establish that it has any significant medical benefit. Your post then goes on to inaccurately summarize the work of doctors.

People should ignore your post. As a bare minimum, people should seek treatments that have proven that they are actually treatments within the context of the scientific method.
Click to expand...
I went through all the "real" solutions. They're a joke.
 
Dr Dogg said:
Plus there's always the competitive score aspects of it as well. Beating your previous rpm rate or a bit of friendly rivalry with friend, family, coworkers or your partner is always a laugh.
Click to expand...

Indeed! My current one doesn´t have a display, which I really miss.

Dr Dogg said:
Hahaha what a freaky coincidence as I've been to the ends and back of the Pre Press Publishing trade for the last 13 years. Though I'm sat in InDesign now more than anything so arm movements are to a minimum but when your using a tablet daily or even at a drafting table for 8+ hours a day it plays constant havoc on your wrist! as I'm sure you're aware.

Funnily the 9 guys and girls I work with all have got a Power Ball or 4 as do quite a lot of the editorial department.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I sometimes can really feel it in my hands and arms when I´ve got one too many jobs in a row. I always make a point to take regular breaks (which is pretty easy when you´re working from home) and think that I´m a relatively quick illustrator as well (none of these "800 hours in Photoshop" concept artist jobs), but even in my early 30s I can already feel that my body has its limits.
 
This is something I really should be paying more attention to. My right wrist randomly gets sore nowadays from how much I use my mouse and how it's held. Hoping it's more fatigue from so much use instead of permanent damage. Any recommendations for a good basic computer setup? (keyboard and some type of mouse with rests)
 
system11 said:
Keyboard use blew out both my wrists (well more specifically tendons) about 12 years ago, I had to stop work for 9 months - this is what happens if you work with computers and then program as a hobby in the evenings. It was so bad when it kicked in that I couldn't drive a car, couldn't even lift a pint glass without pain.

Even now I can't use a non-ergo keyboard for more than 30 minutes, with ergo I'm fine as long as it's not a full typing day at work. Control pads only give me a problem if I'm holding triggers down for an extended period.

Advice given to me which you should all remember - if you get any pain at all - STOP. Don't pop painkillers or try to work through it - STOP. That same friend who gave me this advice didn't stop, and he 15 years down the line is still having to use speech recognition software to work.
Click to expand...

I wonder if people without tendons get this problem? I know there are few people without them, but I am curious.
 
Fantasmo said:
Just get deep tissue massages and get the knots out, good as new. Or, listen to doctors and get weird wrist wraps that make your wrists immobile and take pain killers all day. Nobody is going to take this post seriously. That'll suck when they become essentiially crippled by 50 or 60 if they use computers or games too much. But yeah this an actual fix/cure.
Click to expand...

That's why I made this thread; there are too many people out there who are completely unaware that you can't just play video games and use the keyboard your entire life without exercising and stretching your hands/wrists. It's something that is almost never discussed... and yet it's the most important part of being a gamer: having the ability to play them!
 
Never really thought of this, so I'm glad it was brought up. I'm sure I'll have pretty bad arthritis later on -- especially since I've broken both of my wrists. Hopefully I can get rid of some future pain by doing some exercises now.
 
RaikuHebi said:
Does wanking count?
Click to expand...

Was going to say this. Also, as ridiculous as powerballs look they're actually a good hand workout.

I find that using a heavier mouse at high sensitivity helps a lot with strain on my right wrist, don't have to move it as much and the weight helps with control. I'm going to be really sad when this old G5 dies.
 
I don't have as much carpel tunnel problems as I do with my ulnar nerve. It accounts for the nerve that go to the outside half of the ring finger and pinky. Shit hurts.
 
Alvarez said:
Though younger gamers may not be able to relate to this (yet), they should still get started. Exercise/stretch your hands often--every day--or you will inevitably begin to experience hand and wrist problems as early as your 20s.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=carpal+tunnel+exercises&sm=3

While these exercises are specifically for carpal tunnel syndrome, they will help prevent and reduce any repetitive use hand/wrist problem.

Take this seriously! There are times where I want to game and I can't because of wrist pain. It sucks! Don't let it happen to you.

And to inspire some discussion: Who here has experienced more hand/wrist fatigue using the keyboard than using a traditional gamepad? How about the other way around?
Click to expand...

I have. I don't game on keyboard for very long, especially not after I begun to feel that. (21 yo)
 
Does working out help with avoiding these problems? My wrist strength has increased a lot over the past couple of months and my grip has improved a lot from it as well.
 
PoweredBySoy said:
I'm 39 and WASD and years of shooters has done quite a number on my left hand. It's a horribly contorted hand position. My pinky gets sore as well holding down Ctrl for crouch.

I still do it though.... =/

Controllers are fine for me.
Click to expand...

You can definitely tell the old shooter players apart from anyone else when they sit down at a keyboard and their pinky naturally sits on the left ctrl key. Mine does too haha
 
IHaveCandy said:
Does working out help with avoiding these problems? My wrist strength has increased a lot over the past couple of months and my grip has improved a lot from it as well.
Click to expand...

It can both help and harm. Working out will strengthen any muscle, but working out too much will harm the muscle.

It's extremely important to incorporate stretching into any strength training routine. If you don't stretch, your muscles will get tight and you'll risk tearing them, ruining the muscle you spent so much time gaining.
 
If I'm playing games for a few hours or carrying/lifting anything heavy for an extended period my fingers will cramp up. Usually it's my ring and middle finger, sometimes accompanied by inflammation in my wrist or palm. Heat plus stretching (laying it flat/stretching it backwards) helps a lot. Cold makes it feel better temporarily but seems to make it worse after it's removed.
 
I wonder if Amazon send a powerball overseas. If so, I think I'll buy one, for everything I read, it seems really usefull for that purpose.
 
I work on a PC all day, and I come home and play games on my PC or consoles. I also play the piano. Tendinitis is no joke...it's been affecting me for a few years now. Things are finally starting to get better.

First off, streches don't really help. In fact, they can make things worse if you overstretch.

What I've learned, and this is especially true from my piano playing, is that you need to stay completely relaxed. You want your fingers to be relaxed at all times, and don't keep your hands stretched in uncomfortable positions. Also, you want to be in a very relaxed seating position. Armrests should be in close to the body to not put any stress on your shoulders. Your legs and arms should be open by a bit more than 90 degrees. Lumbar support helps a lot for back problems.

As far as gaming goes, holding down Ctrl or Shift for long periods can make me develop a trigger finger in my pinky pretty quickly. Supporting handhelds with my pinky fingers isn't good either. Gaming with a mouse isn't an issue at all, as long as your arm rests are level with your mousepad, as this prevent you from putting unnecessary strain on your wrists. You should be moving your mouse with your arm as much as possible, instead of using your wrist alone.
 
My hands get pretty uncomfortable if I'm playing a game where I have to use mouse and keyboard a lot, and if it's something like Crusader Kings 2 where I'll easily dump 100 hours into it. I don't tend to have any cramps if I'm using a controller though.
 
The only thing that bugs me if using my left hand for WASD on a keyboard over a extended period (30 minutes + )

That is why I like controllers.
 
Alvarez said:
And to inspire some discussion: Who here has experienced more hand/wrist fatigue using the keyboard than using a traditional gamepad? How about the other way around?
Click to expand...

I had a lot of hand pain when I was unemployed and playing for like 6-8 hours a day, lots of time with 3-4 hour stretches.

Now I've got so much else going on in my life it's not so much of an issue. Definitely take breaks and mix your activities up.

I know the feeling of wanting to play but you can't. That's the only thing that really sucks about gaming--it requires some input to do, unlike say, reading.
 
I've noticed, over the years, that if I relax my right hand, it forms the shape it would over a mouse. My pinky almost clicks into place, as I open my hand from a fist.
 
Alvarez said:
And to inspire some discussion: Who here has experienced more hand/wrist fatigue using the keyboard than using a traditional gamepad?
Click to expand...

Me. I had RSI in my hands and cubital tunnel in my elbows because I worked on a PC all days and then used to go home and do 4-6 hours on my PC. Wouldn't recommend that, ended up needing surgery in both arms for the cubital tunnel. I worse wrist braces for 3 years while I slept until my hands had healed enough.

I don't really do PC gaming anymore these days.

For the kids early in highschool, do a sport. Something physical at least. There's nothing fun about videogames and computers being your overwhelming pastime when those chickens come to roost in your late 20s and early 30s.
 
Shit!

its-time-fap-fap-time-here-people-pic-1367756782.jpg
 
I am thankful that I use my mouse at work with my right hand and with my left hand at home or when gaming. Between swapping hands and also weight lifting 3-4 days a week, I think I am keeping my hands/wrists in decent shape. I rarely play games for more than 30-60 minutes at a time and only a few hours a week, so I suspect I'll be good long term.
 
Funny enough, the only time I ever experience hand cramps or anything is when I use a controller. Mainly with racing games where I'm holding down the trigger for acceleration for moderate periods of time.

Keyboard and mouse and I'm fine.

I think a lot of it is that I've broken my right hand several times in my life and its not really 'right' anymore. I only have about 90% grip strength compared to my left and it hurts a bit if I'm straining it in non-natural positions. With a mouse, my hand is laid on it quite naturally.
 
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