Hand stretching for gamers and eSports
is effective
against symptoms of
carpal tunnel syndrome. The proper hand stretches are both a preventive measure as well as a treatment for carpal tunnel if you already have it. If you don't take care of your hands, then you risk having your high-level gaming career cut short.
Almost everybody knows that gaming is both fun and addictive. You can get stuck in a game for hours without even knowing it.
However, we also now know that working a gaming console or computer causes hand problems. In fact, the
National Institutes of Health warns that gamers are among the people who are at the
highest risk for getting
carpal tunnel syndrome.
Actually, most gamers say at one time or another they’ve had carpal tunnel symptoms. Therefore, a regimen of hand stretching for gamers is crucial in order to keep this condition from happening.
I designed the following stretches specifically for those who perform daily repetitive hand and finger activities.
They're quick to do so they don't interfere with your game time. You can easily complete them in under a minute. And for maximum protection against hand problems, do them once every 30-60 minutes of time you spend gaming.
Start with your left hand. Put the palm against the wall and then spread all fingers widely. Now extend (straighten) the elbow while pressing into the wall. Next, take a few breaths. Then bend your head sideways, trying to touch the right ear to the right shoulder.
As you do, bring the left shoulder inward slowly, as if facing the wall. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Finally, repeat for the left hand, and then repeat the cycle again.
Now push both palms together, keeping fingers together and pointing up, in a “prayer position”. Keep both hands close to your chest and in front of you.
Next, relax your shoulders and slowly raise both elbows. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Then drop your hands at your side and shake them out vigorously for a few seconds. If they warm up, it's becasue blood is flowing through them.
Repeat this exercise again. When it comes to hand stretching for gamers, this is one of the best. Indeed, you should feel your forearms and wrists stretching like never before.
Next, hold one hand up as if you’re saying “STOP!” With the opposite hand, reach up and grab your fingers. Then pull them backwards. Maintain this position for 10 seconds.
Then drop both hands at your sides and shake them out vigorously for a few seconds. Repeat the exercise one more time.
First, grab your straightened index finger. Next, gently pull back on it and hold this position for 5 seconds. You will feel the base of the finger stretch.
Then repeat this exercise again for each finger. Do not forget your thumb!
Now interlace your fingers. Then rotate both palms so they’re facing away from you.
Next, push out and straighten out your arms while all fingers remain interlaced. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Then drop both hands at your sides and shake them out vigorously. Repeat the exercise once again.
All finger and hand stretching for gamers should include this exercise. As a matter of fact, most therapists recommend you perform this particular exercise as often as possible.
All hand stretching for gamers should employ a separate thumb stretch. The thumb is the finger most affectd by carpal tunnel, so stretching it is important.
For this exercise, rotate your thumb like a helicopter blade. Do so several times, and then change direction.
Also, as a final step, pull the thumb backward, slowly and gently. Hold that position for 10 seconds. Then switch hands and repeat.
With both hands held high, make lose fists. Next, make slow circular motions with each fist, rotating around your wrist joint. (Pretend each thumb tip is making circles on the sky.)
Try to make those circles as big as you can, for about 10 seconds. Then, switch directions.
Hand stretching for gamers often does not include wrist exercises, so this should be done as often as possible.
Hand stretching for gamers sounds like a good idea, but few people actually do them as a preventative measure. Most people only start them when their hands or fingers begin to hurt or go numb.
But if you don't wait, and instead periodically do these exercises while playing, you'll avoid getting carpal tunnel syndrome.
For certain, once the pain, numbness or tingling starts, it’s much harder to treat. So carpal tunnel prevention with the proper stretches is the key to always having healthy hands.
