Is video game arthritis real?

[scarper]

I'm curious, since there's a whole mess of websites that talk about people with disfigured finger joints and what not. And then you have parents using it as a way to keep their kids from the "evils" of video games.

But it does not appear that anyone has discovered clinical proof of video games causing arthritis. Have any Racketeers had such problems?

[MrPopo]

I wouldn't be concerned any more than any other repetitive task involving your fingers, like typing.

[J T]

The problem is really caused by excessive masturbation, but nobody wants to admit it, so they blame it on the videogames.

[MrPopo]

The problem is really caused by excessive masturbation, but nobody wants to admit it, so they blame it on the videogames.

I thought that's why the dinosaurs died out.

[Flake]

The problem is really caused by excessive masturbation, but nobody wants to admit it, so they blame it on the videogames.

I thought that's why the dinosaurs died out.

Not the T-Rex. Poor guy.

[scarper]

I wouldn't be concerned any more than any other repetitive task involving your fingers, like typing.

I usually only play 1-2 hours of video games a day, so I probably don't have much to worry about.

The problem is really caused by excessive masturbation, but nobody wants to admit it, so they blame it on the videogames.

See, that's exactly what I thought it was. All this sudden video game disease crap confused the hell oughta me.

I guess that's why we don't see as many female gamers.

[MrHealthy]

I wouldn't be concerned any more than any other repetitive task involving your fingers, like typing.

This. Just pick up a stress ball on the cheap and use it when watching tv or something. It will help your hands a lot and reduce the risk of arthritis / carpel tunnel, etc.

[Hatta]

Yes, RSI is real. The standard advice is to take lots of breaks, and switch it up with other actions. I like to juggle for a few minutes every half hour or so.

This is going to be a much more interesting subject in 20-30 years, when first generation gamers are reaching the age that arthritis usually hits. I expect a lot of third party ergonomic controllers to hit the market. Someone severely arthritic might even benefit from the same kind of gear that paraplegics use to interface from computers. I can totally see tongue control for shmups someday.

[Inazuma]

I heard that TLO (The Little One), the famous German Starcraft 2 player had to take a break because of something related to arthritis.

Personally, I have experienced strange feelings and pain in my hands very rarely when I play video games all day for many days in a row. I remember being forced to stop playing Phantasy Star Universe one or two times because of this. After taking a break, everything was fine. Nothing too serious thankfully.

Oh, I also remember a time on Phantasy Star Universe when another player complained about hand pain and had to leave.

I've also heard stories about people getting carpal tunnel from Diablo II. Clicking the mouse like a mother fucker for 15 hours in a row will do that. >_>

[flamepanther]

Arthritis isn't exactly something you "get from" something anyway. It's a genetic condition, which certain activities exacerbate. In other words, if you get arthritis some day, you were going to get whether you played games or not--but once the condition presents itself, too much gaming could make it worse.