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Active: 613 users

Reducing wrist fatigue from SC2 mouse use?

Forum Index > SC2 General
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RinconH
Profile Joined April 2010
United States512 Posts
April 29 2013 03:41 GMT
#1
I'm having trouble participating in both my hobbies (Basketball and SC2) due to wrist fatigue.

Essentially, playing SC2 - while not hurting my wrist - makes it feel fatigued, which affects my jumpshot playing basketball.

Anyone have a mouse or wrist rest they use that they've found effective at reducing this problem?

I'm currently using a Microsoft Intellipoint 3000 and one of those IMAK ergonomic beanbag wrist rests.
Archile
Profile Joined June 2011
United States403 Posts
April 29 2013 03:43 GMT
#2
more effective than getting a mouse pad (although helpful) would to be doing some target excercise on your wrists, such as wrist curls etc.

I found this link a while back in a reddit post :
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/md55.htm

Just a bad player trying to be a little less bad
sylverfyre
Profile Joined May 2010
United States8298 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-29 04:05:19
April 29 2013 03:44 GMT
#3
Stretch your wrists regularly as well. (Related but not exactly the same thing)

Do a set of stretches (takes like ~30 seconds to 1 min) after every hour of using the computer (or doing anything else wrist-intensive)
Conut
Profile Joined April 2012
Canada1026 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-29 03:47:04
April 29 2013 03:45 GMT
#4
well im not a expert but i don't know if having a wrist rest is doing more good then harm. I do not have a wrist rest and sc2 does not put stress on my wrist.

Also just doing simple stretches will help you alot, after a game or two just make sure you stretch it out.
Sc2 always got your back
Nerski
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States1095 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-29 04:07:37
April 29 2013 04:05 GMT
#5
edited as this is better information for you.

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/proper-hand-and-wrist-position-for-mouse-and-trackball-use
Twitter: @GoForNerski /// Youtube: Youtube.com/nerskisc
Qwyn
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States2779 Posts
April 29 2013 04:15 GMT
#6
You need to describe how your wrists are positioned. A wrist rest really isn't going to help you, instead you need to focus on having proper posture, chair height, and wrist positioning. Stretches also help.
"Think of the hysteria following the realization that they consciously consume babies and raise the dead people from their graves" - N0
JimmyJRaynor
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada16693 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-29 04:23:38
April 29 2013 04:22 GMT
#7
On April 29 2013 12:43 Archile wrote:
more effective than getting a mouse pad (although helpful) would to be doing some target excercise on your wrists, such as wrist curls etc.

I found this link a while back in a reddit post :
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/md55.htm



see a licensed physiotherapist specializing in sports medicine.
preferably 1 who works at a physio clinic with an orthopedic surgeon in charge of the whole operation.

they should direct you towards an exercise program that will solve your problem.

myself,
i like IronMind and StrongLifts.com

http://www.ironmind.com/

http://stronglifts.com/

but, this kind of advice is not a replacement for what a physiotherapist and/or orthopedic surgeon assessment can give u.
Ray Kassar To David Crane : "you're no more important to Atari than the factory workers assembling the cartridges"
LingBlingBling
Profile Joined December 2012
United States353 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-29 04:32:29
April 29 2013 04:31 GMT
#8
Just using common sense, if you are not a Pro Gamer and don't have to play 12 hours a day you should not be having issues.

Have good posture, normal health care, exercise like every other person and you should be golden.

No need to go all out or anything. Reason Pros have wrist issues is because it's their job and they play for years for 12 hours or more every single day. Just like pitches in baseball can throw their arm/shoulders out.


For us normal folk, using common sense and keeping good health should be plenty. How often do you play everyday? take breaks after few hours ect.
Remember our motto: We ain't got it.
OkStyX
Profile Blog Joined October 2011
Canada1199 Posts
April 29 2013 04:40 GMT
#9
i actually found a wrist rest hurt my wrist more,stretches help you need to maybe take a break check your chair height make it so your wrists are resting flat wear a brace if you have to but you should address this problem before ot leads to something else .
Team Overklocked Gaming! That man is the noblest creature may be inferred from the fact that no other creature has contested this claim. - G.C. Lichtenberg
RinconH
Profile Joined April 2010
United States512 Posts
April 29 2013 04:50 GMT
#10
On April 29 2013 13:31 LingBlingBling wrote:
Just using common sense, if you are not a Pro Gamer and don't have to play 12 hours a day you should not be having issues.

Have good posture, normal health care, exercise like every other person and you should be golden.

No need to go all out or anything. Reason Pros have wrist issues is because it's their job and they play for years for 12 hours or more every single day. Just like pitches in baseball can throw their arm/shoulders out.


For us normal folk, using common sense and keeping good health should be plenty. How often do you play everyday? take breaks after few hours ect.


I don't really play all too much... maybe 60-70min a day tops and not every day.

Perhaps I just have weak wrists. Thanks for all the advice thus far.
Qwyn
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States2779 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-29 04:53:26
April 29 2013 04:51 GMT
#11
It also really depends on how fast you are playing - if you are playing in the 450 APM range then it is going to take a long time for your wrists to get used to that and it might be sore for a number of months before you get used to the burden (if you don't then it's really just a problem of posture/positioning). Just focus on copying Korean wrist/keyboard positioning, having proper posture, and letting your hands "float" (not literally holding them suspended, - what this means is not to press down on the bone at the bottom of your wrist - let your hands glide and practice pivoting them). When you do hand stretches, don't force them, as this only aggravates the tendons in your wrists.

This is how I like to warm up for a long play session. First I soak my wrists in a basin of hot water, then I run through my stretches, and then I play - starting out slowly. As I get into the groove (happens naturally) that is when I'll speed up to full. Every hour I'll go soak my hands in hot water again, and then do a couple basic stretches. Then back to playing.

Hot water really loosens up the fingers and the wrists - it can help reduce pain and aggravation before play.

If you're feeling sore while not playing, do the opposite. Soak your wrists in cold water, wear a wrist brace (Ace is a good brand) when not playing (I use it for my keyboard hand, as it is under way more stress than my mouse hand - all problems with your mouse hand are solved with good positioning/posture). Remember that these are supplemental and are no excuse for proper posture, positioning, stretching and practice. Remember to be loose. Don't hunch up - don't flex or strain your fingers (I always picture long, spindly spider hands).

+ Show Spoiler +
Some backstory - when I was first starting out I was very stupid. Do not think that your posture/positioning is better than established Korean norms. I thought it was better for me to hold my hands suspended above the board and a bunch of other stuff - I basically did the opposite of what you SHOULD do. So much so that I upset the ligaments in the top of my wrist. The pain was, for a long period of time, unbearable, so I took a long break from playing. When I came back, I practiced proper habits (along with improving my mechanics over a period of a year). Soaking my hands in hot water is a lifesaver - same for cold when not playing). So is the wrist brace I picked up at RiteAid for $10. Wear it whenever you are not playing, run through stretches, and thoroughly learn your limits. When the pain is gone again you can start pushing yourself.
"Think of the hysteria following the realization that they consciously consume babies and raise the dead people from their graves" - N0
dicedicerevolution
Profile Joined October 2009
United States245 Posts
April 29 2013 05:42 GMT
#12
I made a post on the [Blog] mousespeed.net thread about this, here's someone quoting the relevant part of my post:

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=405788&currentpage=3#51

You can check out the posts in the thread by between me and blueslobster for more stuff.
Rabiator
Profile Joined March 2010
Germany3948 Posts
April 29 2013 06:26 GMT
#13
One thing which helped me - although it is a big change - was to not use a mouse but a graphics tablet instead. This will help, because the movements with a pen are not as "cramped" as with a mouse. The tiny movements of a click with your finger are actually bad for the muscles and tendons and replacing them with the larger pen movements will help ease the pain.

I started out with a cheap one (~50€) which only had the basic movements, but later on I got a Wacom (~250€) with a lot better customization. This was a necessity for me because I work as layouter for books and it actually improved the work as well. For a tablet it isnt necessary to get a really big one and even a small one - mine is A5 size - works well. The difficult part is getting used to the different movements like tipping the pen instead of a left-click and using the button on the pen for the rightclick.
If you cant say what you're meaning, you can never mean what you're saying.
Matt_D_
Profile Joined August 2012
Australia14 Posts
April 29 2013 08:28 GMT
#14
as in the other thread.

- avoid isolated motion.
- move your forearm/wrist as a unit
- everything should flow together.

get someone to video you playing basketball, and watch what your wrist does when you play. are you shooting from the wrist only? use that whole arm man, not just your wrist. same goes for using a mouse, or a kb, be like an old dot matrix printer head, move everything together.
Matt_D_
Profile Joined August 2012
Australia14 Posts
April 29 2013 08:30 GMT
#15
oh, and i suggest video because what you think you do, and what you actually do are going to be two very different things. humans and their concepts of their own body motion is horribly inaccurate. video it, watch it in slow motion. and if you're using only your wrist and not your whole forearm as a unit. you're going to have to go re-learn stuff

IPS.Blue
Profile Joined January 2004
Germany309 Posts
April 29 2013 14:10 GMT
#16
On April 29 2013 12:41 RinconH wrote:
I'm currently using a Microsoft Intellipoint 3000 and one of those IMAK ergonomic beanbag wrist rests.

What sensitivity do you play with? Too high of a sensitivity can cause hand injuries. dicedicerevolution already provided you with a link to a discussion regarding this relationship. Chances are your sensitivity is set too high; reduce it and stick with it for at least a few weeks.


On April 29 2013 12:41 RinconH wrote:
Anyone have a mouse or wrist rest they use that they've found effective at reducing this problem?

Concerning a wrist rest: I don’t think a wrist rest is going to help. As conut suggested it could be even harmful.



On April 29 2013 13:05 Nerski wrote:
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/proper-hand-and-wrist-position-for-mouse-and-trackball-use

I don’t like the picture of the supposedly correct mouse holding technique this website provides. It looks like the hand is floating above the mousepad, in order to achieve a neutral wrist position. That of course is not a realistic grip technique for playing SC 2, but it definitely helps with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. ;P
In order to achieve a more neutral wrist position I would suggest using a mouse which isn’t as high as your current mouse is.
magnaflow
Profile Joined August 2011
Canada1521 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-29 14:13:18
April 29 2013 14:12 GMT
#17
On April 29 2013 12:44 sylverfyre wrote:
Stretch your wrists regularly as well. (Related but not exactly the same thing)

Do a set of stretches (takes like ~30 seconds to 1 min) after every hour of using the computer (or doing anything else wrist-intensive)



I always do some wrist stretching before mast.... playing SC2

TheMaXiM
Profile Joined May 2012
United States43 Posts
April 29 2013 14:27 GMT
#18
I just play till it hurts, then play more. If it's excessive pain, then that's good that means you got good practice in.
Masayume
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
Netherlands208 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-29 14:38:29
April 29 2013 14:32 GMT
#19
I posted this in another thread, but I think this will be somewhat relevant for you.

Be very careful with stretches, especially if it's tennis,golfers elbow or wrist fatigue symptoms. The last thing you want to do is cause (more) micro tears by stretching. It is very hard to determine wether you are overstretching or not, because it feels completely different when compared to the muscles stretching. You won't quite feel the same warning signs when you overstretch your tendons.

I am talking from experience here, where I had to do stretches in a physiotherapy facility, and the "expert" let me overstretch (it had to hurt a bit according to him). It set me back by at least 5 months....

I actually had to stop stretching completely, and may never stretch again until I am fully recovered from my (now) chronic tendinosis. (1 accident 2.5 years ago + failing experts and misdiagnose will do this to you, long story)
This is different for each person, so make sure you get yourself checked out by a good professional. Ask around beforehand so you get someone who is really good at dealing with your specific issue.

Also when doing stretches, it is better if you let the arm you are stretching hang down, as you don't put pressure on the shoulder this way, which can create other problems over time (blood flow/inflammation). A chiropractor taught me this. So instead of horizontal, go vertical!

***And to the poster above me, please stop doing that before you end up with a severe case of tendonitis that will become tendinosis if you repeat your described process. Recovery time for that is well above 6 months and it ruins your life. I got it through an accident, but YOU can prevent it from happening by listening to your body voluntarily.***
Balance. Enjoy the process instead of focusing on musts.
Saumure
Profile Joined February 2012
France404 Posts
April 29 2013 14:35 GMT
#20
I don't know if this approach might help, I hope it does.
If you check out the thread that someone just made about the APM from different progamers at Dreamhack, you will notice how little some move their right hand. All the long and excessive mouse movements you might do are taken care by the left hand, using basic and camera hotkeys.
renkin
Profile Joined July 2010
France249 Posts
April 29 2013 14:36 GMT
#21
Thanks for the various links everyone it's helpfull for me as well.

In my case I'm using a mousepad with wrist support + Show Spoiler +
[image loading]
it perfectly fits the position linked by Nerski + Show Spoiler +
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/proper-hand-and-wrist-position-for-mouse-and-trackball-use


I've used this for years, both at work and at home. I play SC2 and fast fps and never had any wrist problems.
Honeybadger
Profile Joined August 2010
United States821 Posts
April 29 2013 18:05 GMT
#22
as an EMT who sees wrist injuries all the time, and a 5-day/week weight lifter, with a physical therapist girlfriend, stretch.

Masayuma above may have had a bad experience, but stretching when you already HAVE an injury to a tendon can be bad and must be supervised. But good old preventative stretching won't hurt you unless you're too dumb to recognize when it's too far (and you'd probably be dead by now already if you didn't have that skill)

Stretch, relax, and take breaks. Don't push it too hard. Do TLO's stretches (pull on your fingertips with your other hand and pull up, down, just until you feel a stretch in the muscles)

One thing not mentioned, is strength exercises

Buy yourself a weight, for most people about 8-10lbs, and place your forearm flat on your thigh with your hand hanging off and pointing down. grasp the weight and do three sets of 10-12 reps of lifting that weight all the way up from bottom to top. Then do it the other way by just flipping your arm over.

When I first started lifting, my forearms were strong, but my wrists were unbelievably weak. They'd crack and make all sorts of horrible noises. through low intensity exercise (essentially what I described above) you will build not only your forearm muscles, but the stabilizing muscles around your wrists.
"I like to tape my thumbs to my hands to see what it would be like to be a dinosaur."
Masayume
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
Netherlands208 Posts
April 29 2013 21:09 GMT
#23
I agree with Honeybadger and should have clarified his point about preventative stretching vs stretching when micro tears have already occured in my own post. And everyone should build up forearm and wrist strength as described above. It's not only good for playing Starcraft, but also in every area of life to prevent trauma or injury.

Can't stress this enough because it's so important and overlooked. Thanks for the great post Honeybadger!

And here's a nice and interesting video about forearm strength training from an expert on the subject with many years of experience (If you already have pain, go see a professional and don't try anything yourself!):
Balance. Enjoy the process instead of focusing on musts.
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