Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most prevalent hand conditions present today. Caused when the median nerve is compressed in the carpal tunnel, it results in numbness and weakness in the thumb and fingers.
The carpal tunnel is a narrow opening on your wrist which is surrounded by ligaments and bones on the palm side of the hand. It is formed by the carpal bones on the bottom of the wrist and the carpal ligament, which is transverse, on the top of the wrist.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that you can self-treat, but the timeline for healing at home is pretty lengthy.
Different health conditions, one’s wrist anatomy and one’s activities, specifically repetitive hand motions are said to contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Mechanical overuse, repetitive hand motion, is considered the most common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. And video games, not without its merits, is an activity that requires repeated moves in order to win.
This means that carpal tunnel syndrome is a cause of concern for people who game a lot. In this article, we will look over the common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and ways to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome when gaming.
Before we go over the phenomenon of carpal tunnel syndrome when gaming, let’s look at the possible symptoms of the condition.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome:
The symptoms for carpal tunnel syndrome are not experienced equally by all. However there are some commonalities. These are the most frequently reported symptoms for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Pain in your finger, hand and/or arm.
Numbness in your fingers and hands.
Tingling in the fingers, feeling of pins and needles is common.
Reduced grip strength, specifically with the thumb.
Swollen feeling in the fingers.
The pain gets worse at night.
Difficulty in holding and controlling objects.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome When Gaming:
Now that we’ve looked at how the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome manifest, let’s explore the connection between gaming and carpal tunnel syndrome.
A recent study showed that esport athletes are more at risk of developing upper-extremity nerve compressions including carpal tunnel syndrome. Similarly, they also experience more severe symptoms than an average person.
Another study showed that there was a relationship between playing duration and frequency and the complaints of carpal tunnel among high school students in Jakarta.
This study was conducted specifically regarding online games, but it won’t be too far-fetched to think that this remains true for all other types of video games as well.
How to avoid carpal tunnel when gaming:
Now that we’ve established the relationship between gaming and carpal tunnel syndrome, let’s learn how to avoid carpal tunnel when gaming. These are some changes you can implement to reduce the chances of developing carpal tunnel syndrome:
Improve your posture:
Starting this section without acknowledging just how prevalent this method seems to be (it seems to be a particular favorite for coccyx bone pain) would be irresponsible of me. Improving your posture is almost treated as a magical fix when it comes to conditions relating to nerves and joints.
It is usually effective though, and that is even more true when it comes to carpal tunnel syndrome. Improving your posture when gaming, that is sitting straight and not hunching over, leads to significant change when it comes to CTS.
Take breaks:
While the narratives in games and just sheer competitiveness make this a daunting task, taking breaks when gaming can help a lot when it comes to avoiding carpal tunnel syndrome as long duration of repetitive movements are linked to increased risks of developing CTS.
Do wrist exercises:
You can try some simple wrist exercises to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. Some common exercises recommended for this particular condition are wrist circles, prayer stretches and wrist flexor stretches.
While these methods can definitely help in pain relief, make sure you get a second opinion from a professional if the pain persists and gets worse over time.
