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Post by HDSimplicityy on May 23, 2021 14:30:10 GMT -6
IN the last two weeks I have taken a break from most all writing to make a new writers' website and because of tired hands. Id like to know your process for making sure you're writing hand is not cramped, how you take breaks. Even how it affects your gaming sessions. A co worker told me his brother received surgery to solve his carpal tunnel. Yikes! I sure hope mine does not get that bad with developing new habits. That way, as I steadily ramp back up my writing I can avoid symptoms easier.
Example: I bought my first mechanical keyboard last summer. Its not 100% ergonomic, but a writer on Scribophile highly recommended it. The rows of keys to rise front to back, keys are easy to press, as well as comfortable. I also bought a bead pad sorta thing to rest my palms on. My mouse is a regular, low cost gaming mouse. I make sure my elbows use the space between my body and my new chairs' adjustable arm rests (I bought a new ergonomic task chair last week). For video gaming, I am training my hands to grip controllers lighter, using different configurations, taking breaks frequently and stretching.
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Post by ScintillaMyntan on May 23, 2021 18:45:42 GMT -6
I've had hints of repetitive strain injury once in a while. Also, one time I had a weird thing where I would be making my normal movements very quickly and sharply, like if I was turning my head to look at something I'd really snap it around — a friend told me he'd been to the doctor for that same issue before and was told it's also caused by sitting around doing little repetitive movements too much. That one wasn't painful, but it did give me a fright as to what it was.
What I've done for repetitive strain injury is use the computer less, and there are also a bunch of stretches I found online. You can look them up, but I can no longer find the webpage I thought was really helpful a few years back. The most helpful stretches I've come across were
1) Put your palms together like praying, and then move your hands down in that position, keeping them together, until you feel a stretch. Then move your arms from side to side while keeping your hands that way
2) Extend your arm in front of you and use your other hand to pull each finger back
3) Put your arm against a wall and turn a little in the opposite direction so your arm gets stretched behind you
More generally, I've been increasingly interested in stretches, breathing techniques, and the like to improve overall health. I actually have my phone play a sound every half hour which is when I have myself do one or two of those exercises. Good circulation is good for you and helps you think clearly, and such.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2021 19:46:33 GMT -6
I got carpel tunnel once, when I was just out of college. I was writing a lot and playing a lot of games on the keyboard. It's the ring finger, mostly, though all of it is connected.
Here's the thing about carpel tunnel and writing. It's all because of the keyboard setup. When typewriters were first invented, if you typed too quickly, then the keys would stick. So they developed the current format, which is referred to as QWERTY, to purposefully slow people's typing down. It was a very inefficient keyboard layout, and it caused lots of issues with carpel tunnel, because certain, highly used letters are in awkward places.
There is another keyboard layout: Dvorak. Dvorak is specifically designed to be intuitive with your fingers. The most common letters are all on the home row, with the less used letters in the awkward places. Not only will Dvorak solve your carpel tunnel, but once you learn it, your typing speed will increase.
The problem, of course, is that learning it is a hassle. You have to relearn the entire alphabet on your fingers. The only two letters that are the same are A and M, for whatever reason. I can easily type over 100 words a minute, so going from that to having to pick your letters out one by one is excruciating. I learned it once, almost ten years ago, but haven't really bothered sense. Mostly because my wife uses the same computer I do and she's not going to learn Dvorak. But, I do have my own laptop, now, so I might switch it over from time to time and take some typing lessons.
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Post by ScintillaMyntan on May 23, 2021 21:01:24 GMT -6
There is another keyboard layout: Dvorak. Dvorak is specifically designed to be intuitive with your fingers. The most common letters are all on the home row, with the less used letters in the awkward places. Not only will Dvorak solve your carpel tunnel, but once you learn it, your typing speed will increase. The problem, of course, is that learning it is a hassle. You have to relearn the entire alphabet on your fingers. The only two letters that are the same are A and M, for whatever reason. I can easily type over 100 words a minute, so going from that to having to pick your letters out one by one is excruciating. I learned it once, almost ten years ago, but haven't really bothered sense. Mostly because my wife uses the same computer I do and she's not going to learn Dvorak. But, I do have my own laptop, now, so I might switch it over from time to time and take some typing lessons. I type in Dvorak! I don't think it's that much of an improvement because I still get RSIs. I basically only learned it as a fun exercise and bragging rights. But yep, Dvorak has been my main layout for the past 8 or so years now and I'm losing my Qwerty abilities. My phone is in Dvorak too. I learned by various online free typing exercise things. It also helped me a lot somehow to physically rearrange the keys on my laptop so that the keys actually matched the letters they were now mapped to. I think it helped me develop a subconscious visual of where the keys are. |
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Post by HDSimplicityy on May 23, 2021 22:49:32 GMT -6
I've had hints of repetitive strain injury once in a while. Also, one time I had a weird thing where I would be making my normal movements very quickly and sharply, like if I was turning my head to look at something I'd really snap it around — a friend told me he'd been to the doctor for that same issue before and was told it's also caused by sitting around doing little repetitive movements too much. That one wasn't painful, but it did give me a fright as to what it was. What I've done for repetitive strain injury is use the computer less, and there are also a bunch of stretches I found online. You can look them up, but I can no longer find the webpage I thought was really helpful a few years back. The most helpful stretches I've come across were 1) Put your palms together like praying, and then move your hands down in that position, keeping them together, until you feel a stretch. Then move your arms from side to side while keeping your hands that way 2) Extend your arm in front of you and use your other hand to pull each finger back 3) Put your arm against a wall and turn a little in the opposite direction so your arm gets stretched behind you More generally, I've been increasingly interested in stretches, breathing techniques, and the like to improve overall health. I actually have my phone play a sound every half hour which is when I have myself do one or two of those exercises. Good circulation is good for you and helps you think clearly, and such. I recently found number one. I use number two and three often. What kind of breathing techniques?
Taking brakes every fifteen to thirty minutes, or even more frequently ... that helps. Seems like typing not super fast right off the bat also helps until you build momentum.
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Post by HDSimplicityy on May 23, 2021 22:51:11 GMT -6
I got carpel tunnel once, when I was just out of college. I was writing a lot and playing a lot of games on the keyboard. It's the ring finger, mostly, though all of it is connected. Here's the thing about carpel tunnel and writing. It's all because of the keyboard setup. When typewriters were first invented, if you typed too quickly, then the keys would stick. So they developed the current format, which is referred to as QWERTY, to purposefully slow people's typing down. It was a very inefficient keyboard layout, and it caused lots of issues with carpel tunnel, because certain, highly used letters are in awkward places. There is another keyboard layout: Dvorak. Dvorak is specifically designed to be intuitive with your fingers. The most common letters are all on the home row, with the less used letters in the awkward places. Not only will Dvorak solve your carpel tunnel, but once you learn it, your typing speed will increase. The problem, of course, is that learning it is a hassle. You have to relearn the entire alphabet on your fingers. The only two letters that are the same are A and M, for whatever reason. I can easily type over 100 words a minute, so going from that to having to pick your letters out one by one is excruciating. I learned it once, almost ten years ago, but haven't really bothered sense. Mostly because my wife uses the same computer I do and she's not going to learn Dvorak. But, I do have my own laptop, now, so I might switch it over from time to time and take some typing lessons. Ehh that sounds a bit much. I mean, maybe for fun. So its about slowing down your typing, then gradually increasing your speed. Using that to build new muscle memory. |
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Post by ScintillaMyntan on May 24, 2021 9:38:48 GMT -6
What kind of breathing techniques? I don't always like how he sells his claims, and I'm still in the process of figuring out for myself how much his techniques work, but I've been doing some of the exercises recommended by the alternative health guy Meir Schneider. He teaches a lot of movements and stretches and such to help with overall health. He has some exercises to deepen your breathing, like one where you try to exhale as much as you can and then, holding your breath where it is, contract and release your stomach muscles so your belly goes in and out six times. And he has a series of stretches for 'opening up' your chest to make you naturally breathe more freely. I do notice a difference when I take the time to practice them. If you're interested in trying something for posture, I really liked his video on releasing shoulder tension. He says those of us who sit and use computers a lot tend to have a lot of shoulder tension even though we may not realize it. Well, I tried out the exercises he teaches in that video and wow, my shoulders felt really good and relaxed. You know that feeling when you finally get to stretch after sitting too long? It felt like that, only I didn't realize how tense I was beforehand. I wonder if practicing these regularly would help prevent carpal tunnel. |
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Post by HDSimplicityy on May 24, 2021 14:53:29 GMT -6
As i read your response I tried the stomach contracting exersize. The breathing part has to aid with circulation to the hands.
I opened the video on another tab to watch. Well, that tension likely comes from shoulder slouching, having them set forward rather than straight with your neck. If they prevent it, do let me know!
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