Can You Get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome From Gaming?

Gaming is a favorite pastime for millions of people, and while it can have its bad moments, it is often filled with good memories. 

But what happens when you play video games for hours daily without proper posture and wrist support? 

That is when you risk running into one of the many video game injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome.

Playing computer games is – after all – a physical activity where you spend a lot of time doing repetitive movements of the hand. 

Especially PC gamers with poor posture, a bad gaming setup where the keyboard is placed at an awkward angle, or the computer mouse are too small/large are at risk.

If you start experiencing symptoms like numbness in your fingers, a burning sensation in your wrist muscles, or shoulder pain, it’s a good idea to stop and evaluate your video game use and setup.

In this article, I’ll examine video gaming injuries in more detail. The main focus is the all-to-common carpal tunnel syndrome – or as gamers call it – the gamer wrist. 

In the FAQ, you can get info on other gaming-related injuries, including gamer’s thumb, cubital tunnel syndrome, and tennis elbow, including links to good articles.

Keep reading to learn about carpal tunnel syndrome, how gaming can cause it, and what you can do to prevent and treat it. 

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused when one of the major nerves in your wrist, i.e., the median nerve, becomes pressed or squeezed tight when running through your wrist.

You risk chronic nerve damage if the pinched nerve is not treated early. 

Some early signs of carpal tunnel pain include numbness and tingling in the fingers, wrist, and hand. You might also experience a sensation like an electric shock going through your fingers. Usually, the thumb, index, ring, and middle fingers are affected, but not the little finger.

It is one of several repetitive strain injuries and is often caused by repetitive use of a keyboard and mouse. 

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome:

Besides wrist pain and hand pain, there are other symptoms you should look out for:

• A burning sensation in your wrist or hand.
• The occasional feeling of a shock going through your wrist, arm, and hand. 
• Pain that radiates up into your shoulder. 
• Inability to pick up items or hold them for long periods of time due to weakness.

The symptoms often occur in other daily activities that are not gaming-related. Some experience them while holding a steering wheel or using a phone. They may even wake you from sleep.

If you suspect that you may have carpal tunnel syndrome, it is crucial to see a medical professional – a doctor or a physical therapist – as soon as possible. Preventing it from worsening is vital to retain comfortable usage of your hands. 

In severe cases, you may have to undergo carpal tunnel surgery to remove the pressure from the nerve and allow it to run through the wrist properly.

How Does Gaming Affect Your Wrists?

Gaming affects your wrists in many ways, and none are very good. That is why having a good posture and using ergonomic tech (fx, a gaming chair, and an adjustable height table) when possible is essential. 

• Gaming Controller: Both keyboard/mouse and handheld controller players are at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. While both types of controllers have pros, using them for a prolonged period puts unnecessary pressure and stress on your wrists.
• Time Spent Playing: Gaming for a long period of time without breaks increases your chances of injury. Always make sure you are taking regular breaks to stretch and reset your wrists and eyes between each gaming session.
• Repetitive Motions: Most gaming is just making the same repetitive movements over and over for hours on end. While that is great for allowing people to become pros, it does increase the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Having a Non-ergonomic Setup: When it comes to gamer posture and setup, only a few people have a proper ergonomic setup. While it may be less comfortable at first, having a proper ergonomic setup will greatly reduce your risks of injury.

Lower Your Risks of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Now that you know how carpal tunnel syndrome can occur and how gaming can affect it, let’s look at how you can work to lower your risks. You don’t have to implement these all at once, but working them into your daily lifestyle can have a huge impact. 

1. Keep your hands warm to avoid stiffness, and use fingerless gloves in a cold environment.
2. Be mindful of how much force you apply to the keyboard and mouse. Hit the keys softly, and don’t grip the mouse too tightly.
3. Be mindful of your posture. Sit up straight, and don’t shorten your neck by tilting your head backward, as this compresses the nerves in the neck and can cause neck pain.
4. Keep your keyboard at elbow height or slightly lower so you don’t bend your wrists too much up or down. 
5. Stretch those wrists: Stretching your wrists should be something you are doing frequently. Check out this article for a list of exercises.
6. Frequent Breaks: Take regular breaks from your keyboard or gaming controller. Sprinkle them throughout your day, and mix up how long the breaks are.
7. Limit gaming time: Carpal Tunnel is caused by repetitive motion, so limiting gaming time is the best way to prevent it, though not something any gamer wants to hear.
8. Use a wrist splint: While these may be uncomfortable, they can help keep your wrists appropriately aligned and prevent injury.
9. Create an ergonomic setup: Take the time to ensure your desk, screen, and chair are set to the proper heights for you.
10. Use an ergonomic mouse and keyboard. Don’t use a gaming mouse that’s too small or large for your hand.

Making lifestyle changes is never a fun process, but neither is carpal tunnel syndrome. While it may seem better just to put it off, it is almost always best to begin these changes immediately. 

So stretch your wrists regularly and take breaks throughout the day. If you take care of your wrists, they will take care of you.

Other risk factors to consider 

Certain factors may increase the risk of irritating or damaging the median nerve. While they’re not the direct cause of the development of carpal tunnel syndrome, they might boost the risk of developing the condition.

These factors range from wrist fractions to diabetes and obesity. Women generally are at higher risk due to physical differences (including a smaller carpal tunnel, pregnancy, and menopause).

For an extensive list of risk factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, I recommend this article from Mayo Clinic. 

What To Do If You Think You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you believe you may be developing carpal tunnel syndrome and cannot see a medical professional, follow the tips below to help reduce the problem. 

• Wear a wrist splint or other wrist-supporting item.
• Stop gaming or cut back on how many hours per day you are doing it.
• Hand and wrist exercises can help strengthen them to prevent and reduce carpal tunnel symptoms.
• Painkillers help lessen the pain you may feel from it.

While all of these can help with your carpal tunnel syndrome, you must be evaluated by a professional as soon as possible. Proper evaluation will ensure you receive the medical treatment necessary to avoid more severe treatment like surgery. 

Nonsurgical treatments include Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen or corticosteroids.

Surgical treatment includes endoscopic surgery or open surgery.

Conclusion

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a real risk for anyone who uses a keyboard, mouse, or game controller regularly.

It’s not just hardcore gamers; office workers and casual gamers are also at risk of suffering from repetitive stress injury if they use a keyboard or mouse for a long time each day.

If you enjoyed this article, check out How to Make Polished Andesite in Minecraft to make epic builds while taking good care of your wrists. Until next time, happy gaming!

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FAQ

What is gamer’s thumb?

Gamer’s thumb, also known as De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons of the thumb. 

It is typically caused by repetitive motions, such as playing video games for extended periods. Many console gamers know this too well, as mashing buttons on an Xbox or PlayStation controller can lead to this injury.

Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the thumb and wrist, difficulty grasping objects, and swelling or tenderness at the base of the thumb. 

Treatment can include rest, ice, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, a splint or brace, and surgery in severe cases.

For more in-depth information, check out this article by Orthoinfo.

What is a tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition in which the outer part of the elbow becomes painful and tender. 

It is caused by overuse or repetitive strain of the forearm muscles and tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle (a bony bump on the outer part of the elbow). 

Despite its name, tennis elbow can occur in anyone who performs repetitive hand, wrist, or arm movements, not just tennis players. 

Symptoms include pain and tenderness on the outer part of the elbow, weakness in the forearm, and difficulty gripping or lifting objects. 

Treatment may include rest, ice, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery.

For more in-depth information, check out this article by Hopkinsmedicine.

What is cubital tunnel syndrome?

Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the ulnar nerve, which runs from the neck to the hand, becomes compressed or irritated as it passes through a narrow tunnel in the elbow called the cubital tunnel. 

This can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand and arm, particularly in the ring and little fingers. 

It can be caused by repetitive bending of the elbow, pressure on the nerve from leaning on the elbow, or a direct injury to the elbow. 

Treatment options may include rest, splinting, physical therapy, medications, or surgery in severe cases.

For more information, I recommend this article from John Hopkins University.