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Osu! and Repetitive Strain Injuries (how do we avoid them?)

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Total Posts
38
ninjastarr
41 posts
Joined February 2011
Topic Starter
ninjastarr
Repetitive strain injuries are the bane of any avid video game player. As I singletap with my pen, I need to be able to hold the pen in a certain position in order to successfully snap from circle to circle and singletap higher bpm's, but of course the motion of repetitively tapping the tablet surface is practically asking for a RSI of some sort.

More orthodox playstyles encourage singletapping with the keyboard, and many mouse players may get RSI's on their wrists. (esp. carpal tunnel syndrome.)

So, more the point, how do we avoid RSI's? What do/don't you guys do, and what would you guys suggest?

my personal suggestions:

- If you're feeling frustrated (playing on tilt) while a session of osu, you might have more on your plate than you can take - slow down a bit.
- If something you're doing feels (physically) uncomfortable, stop doing it.
- If you feel or begin to feel physical fatigue after a long session of osu, take a break.
(after a several-hour-long play session today, some of my fingers on my pen-hand feel like they've locked up in my tapping grip; also my ring finger feels subtle pain.
PLEASE TAKE BREAKS AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY! :o )
- Don't do anything too strenuous; For instance, don't grip your pen very hard, don't grip your mouse very hard, don't mash really hard when alternating (even if it succeeds). It'll save you in the long run.

Pettanko wrote:

... don't be a fuckin' idiot and know your limits.
pretty sure it's common sense but then again it's not so common nowadays.
can't count how long i've been playing games and my hands are just fine since i take breaks every hour at the maximum.

Ichi wrote:



1) True story, if you feel strain or pain make sure you follow that simple guide.
2) Don´t stress and do not stiffen up too much while playing
3) If some part of your body is hurting or uncomfortable try and change your positioning until you feel it stops, even if your gameplay skills decrease (you´ll get used to it eventually)
4) It´s just a game and not something worth hurting yourself in the long term, you probably love this game more than you do your hands now but in some years you´ll be wishing you didn´t.

Add that to your guide, and yes i suppose he´s trying to help people who are/have suffered some pain from playing the game and maybe believe that they will get used to it, uncomfortable is good and your body can get used to that, but pain is another thing SO STOP PLAYING IF YOU FEEL PAIN.

laishiou wrote:

I think the one case [that] I would recommend working through the songs rather than quitting due to pain is with a marathon [in] mania; and more so for 4K than anything else. Stamina training is generally needed at higher levels. ._. As previously stated, in this game you want to try and play as relaxed as possible - although of course, you can never be completely relaxed. This is much more important at the higher levels for managing fast patterns physically.
(slightly edited for clarity)

piruchan wrote:

It's not like the pain is the beginning of a mutation process that will turn you into Cookiezi.
TL;DR - safety first applies on osu too. What's your experience with RSI's?

Also, please be mindful of the fact that some of us (myself included) are often times not enlightened with 'common sense', and thus the most obvious detail should never be left out!

edit 7/3/2014 : added some input from posts. sincere thanks to all contributors!
Last edited by ninjastarr , edited 2 times in total.
Bauxe
1,624 posts
Joined August 2012
Bauxe
If your hand hurts, stop fucking playing the game.

(I know you pretty much posted this, but its the main point. The amount of people who post going "MY HAND HURTS A LOT SHOULD I KEEP PLAYING??" is a bit ridiculous)
Vuelo Eluko
5,484 posts
Joined October 2013
Vuelo Eluko
i work through the pain
Pettanko
246 posts
Joined September 2012
Pettanko
how to avoid hand injuries? don't be a fuckin' idiot and know your limits

pretty sure it's common sense but then again it's not so common nowadays

can't count how long i've been playing games and my hands are just fine since i take breaks every hour at the maximum
Nub1
1,368 posts
Joined May 2013
Nub1
When my thumb finger hurt, it took more than 3 days to get fully recovered.

Do another activities or play other games while waiting it to get recovered.
MEK
66 posts
Joined September 2013
MEK
buy a 120hz monitor and u get better stamina and wont get rsi
Weed
506 posts
Joined May 2013
Weed

Bassist Vinyl wrote:

i work through the pain
Mythras
255 posts
Joined February 2010
Mythras
stop if it hurts, pretty goddamn simple lol, usually if you stop the minute you have pain for an hour you're fine for hours after
nrl
1,402 posts
Joined October 2011
nrl
I've never experienced any pain playing osu!. Honestly, if you do manage to hurt yourself you're probably doing something wrong, unless you're playing for 6+ hours straight every day.
B1rd
2,974 posts
Joined December 2013
B1rd
when my starts hand hurting, I take a break for like 10 minutes, but then I'm just sitting there and the pink circle on my desktop beckons me to click it again.


so take advice from the best player
SPOILER

thelewa wrote:

PAIN IS ONLY A FEELING YOU CAN GET USED TO IT
xasuma
The First Completionist
1,011 posts
Joined August 2013
xasuma
Are you asking a question? Or are you personally giving advice on the matter? I am not sure the purpose of this thread. Past common sense, someone who doesn't have the knowledge necessary nor detailed information on every specific case can't give you an accurate answer.
If there is a correct place to ask for medical advice on the internet, I doubt that place is the gameplay & rankings forums of the osu! community. ^^

And no dont take advice from thelewa, he has no idea what he is talking about (nor anyone who claims to have the answers). After all he's injured himself, proving his prevention methods are clearly bad. (Im refering to the post above)
Noobsicle
674 posts
Joined October 2013
Noobsicle

xasuma wrote:

Are you asking a question? Or are you personally giving advice on the matter? I am not sure the purpose of this thread. Past common sense, someone who doesn't have the knowledge necessary nor detailed information on every specific case can't give you an accurate answer.
it's pretty clear what the op is discussing here

don't try to deny the fact that clueless players exist
Ichi
277 posts
Joined July 2013
Ichi


1) True story, if you feel strain or pain make sure you follow that simple guide.
2) Don´t stress and do not stiffen up too much while playing
3) If some part of your body is hurting or uncomfortable try and change your positioning until you feel it stops, even if your gameplay skills decrease (you´ll get used to it eventually)
4) It´s just a game and not something worth hurting yourself in the long term, you probably love this game more than you do your hands now but in some years you´ll be wishing you didn´t.

Add that to your guide, and yes i suppose he´s trying to help people who are/have suffered some pain from playing the game and maybe believe that they will get used to it, uncomfortable is good and your body can get used to that, but pain is another thing SO STOP PLAYING IF YOU FEEL PAIN.
piruchan
753 posts
Joined October 2013
piruchan

Ichi wrote:

SO STOP PLAYING IF YOU FEEL PAIN.
^ Common sense. It's not like the pain is the beginning of a mutation process that will turn you into Cookiezi.
Nub1
1,368 posts
Joined May 2013
Nub1

B1rd wrote:

when my starts hand hurting, I take a break for like 10 minutes, but then I'm just sitting there and the pink circle on my desktop beckons me to click it again.


so take advice from the best player
SPOILER

thelewa wrote:

PAIN IS ONLY A FEELING YOU CAN GET USED TO IT

and look what he suffer now
Vuelo Eluko
5,484 posts
Joined October 2013
Vuelo Eluko

Ichi wrote:



1) True story, if you feel strain or pain make sure you follow that simple guide.
2) Don´t stress and do not stiffen up too much while playing
3) If some part of your body is hurting or uncomfortable try and change your positioning until you feel it stops, even if your gameplay skills decrease (you´ll get used to it eventually)
4) It´s just a game and not something worth hurting yourself in the long term, you probably love this game more than you do your hands now but in some years you´ll be wishing you didn´t.

Add that to your guide, and yes i suppose he´s trying to help people who are/have suffered some pain from playing the game and maybe believe that they will get used to it, uncomfortable is good and your body can get used to that, but pain is another thing SO STOP PLAYING IF YOU FEEL PAIN.
i dont think that guide is as effective for osu as it is for typing. i cant go as fast with the "right" angle as i can with the one on the bottom right.
ikzune
159 posts
Joined August 2013
ikzune
i think the one case i would work recommend working through the songs rather then quitting due to pain is with a marathon mania and more so for 4k then anything else, stamina training is generally needed at higher levels of osu mania ._. i understand that this is not directed at osumania however the topic question was generalised so i thought i would add this, as ichi had stated, in this game mode you want to try and play as relaxed as possible of course you can never be completely relaxed, this is more so important at the higher levels for managing fast patterns physically
Vuelo Eluko
5,484 posts
Joined October 2013
Vuelo Eluko

laishiou wrote:

i think the one case i would work recommend working through the songs rather then quitting due to pain is with a marathon mania and more so for 4k then anything else, stamina training is generally needed at higher levels of osu mania ._. i understand that this is not directed at osumania however the topic question was generalised so i thought i would add this, as ichi had stated, in this game mode you want to try and play as relaxed as possible of course you can never be completely relaxed, this is more so important at the higher levels for managing fast patterns physically
it amazes me how much top stepmania players demolish their keyboard with the force of their taps when they play.
Ichi
277 posts
Joined July 2013
Ichi

Bassist Vinyl wrote:

i dont think that guide is as effective for osu as it is for typing. i cant go as fast with the "right" angle as i can with the one on the bottom right.
Of course it is... hand positioning in relation to the keyboard has only one meaning. It´s not an osu! speed tapping guide, its just a guide that lets you know how to place your hands correctly on a keyboard so if your typing or using it alot you won´t hurt yourself. And that´s why i said, changing a position won´t make you bettter, on the contrary you will feel slower but you have to know that the right position is worth giving up a bit of speed (which you´ll end up getting back when you get used to the change)

piruchan wrote:

Ichi wrote:

SO STOP PLAYING IF YOU FEEL PAIN.
^ Common sense. It's not like the pain is the beginning of a mutation process that will turn you into Cookiezi.
well you know the simplest things are sometimes the hardest to see... If it was such common sence then why do we have people suffering from hand strains over and over? i don´t think they where completely fine and the next day they suffered from carpal tunnel or whatever, you must go through alot of numbness and keep playing for that to happen.
ninjastarr
41 posts
Joined February 2011
Topic Starter
ninjastarr
thanks for input guys, updated op

note several quotes were slightly edited for grammatical clarity as I saw fit; please correct me if anything doesn't look right!
RaneFire
1,181 posts
Joined May 2011
RaneFire

Ichi wrote:

Of course it is... hand positioning in relation to the keyboard has only one meaning. It´s not an osu! speed tapping guide, its just a guide that lets you know how to place your hands correctly on a keyboard so if your typing or using it alot you won´t hurt yourself. And that´s why i said, changing a position won´t make you bettter, on the contrary you will feel slower but you have to know that the right position is worth giving up a bit of speed (which you´ll end up getting back when you get used to the change)
Pretty much. Hand position does count, but as you get better at using it, you'll naturally figure out what you need to do to play well, and it's not always what you think (like using a bad posture).

Despite the topic name, this thread is mostly about keyboard & tablet posture. I really could use some tips about mouse clicking posture, since obviously I can't play that anymore due to finger joint issues that I've never been able to solve. I'm leaning towards the assumption that the damage is already done, so I've been taking a break from it for a long time now... Since March 2013 to be precise. I've tried playing mouse-only twice since then, for a day or 2, but always had the problem return quickly. I don't know how long I have to keep this up, but I'd appreciate some input in the meantime. I don't feel in a position to experiment at the moment.
DeletedUser_4329079
DeletedUser_4329079
I suck at this game (1500pp lol) and I've already broken three keys because I smash my keyboard very hard when singletapping faster maps, what should I do?
I keep trying to not hit the keys too hard but I just can't control it, and I feel like I am going to screw up my fingers in a few months if I keep doing it. Should I give mech keyboards a try? Idk if the are softer or harder to use, but I've read they have some sort of tactile feedback which sounds quite useful.
On the other hand I don't have a lot of money and it would be a waste if it doesn't fix my problem. What do you think?
E m i
E m i

Default wrote:

I suck at this game (1500pp lol) and I've already broken three keys because I smash my leyboard really hard when singletapping faster maps, what should I do? I keep trying to not hit the keys too hard but I just can't control it, I feel like I am going to screw up my fingers in a few months. Should give mech keyboards a try? Idk if the are softer or harder to use, but I've read they have some sort of tactile feedback which sounds quite useful.
On the other hand I don't have a lot of money and it would be a waste if it doesn't fix my problem. What do you think?
they're more durable so your problem is theoretically fixed
most people consider them better
you can find the info on the internet
Yuudachi-kun
5,435 posts
Joined August 2014
Yuudachi-kun
I used to feel pain when I played; then each day it seemed like it took longer and longer for the pain to come until eventually it didn't come at all.
Nathan
2,161 posts
Joined August 2014
Nathan
Always keep your hand stretched out, make sure you don't keep your hand stuck in one position for too long, sometimes I find myself doing that while playing in long sessions
lilelf29
120 posts
Joined June 2013
lilelf29

Ichi wrote:



1) True story, if you feel strain or pain make sure you follow that simple guide.
2) Don´t stress and do not stiffen up too much while playing
3) If some part of your body is hurting or uncomfortable try and change your positioning until you feel it stops, even if your gameplay skills decrease (you´ll get used to it eventually)
4) It´s just a game and not something worth hurting yourself in the long term, you probably love this game more than you do your hands now but in some years you´ll be wishing you didn´t.

Add that to your guide, and yes i suppose he´s trying to help people who are/have suffered some pain from playing the game and maybe believe that they will get used to it, uncomfortable is good and your body can get used to that, but pain is another thing SO STOP PLAYING IF YOU FEEL PAIN.
Wtf that correct arm/wrist position is ridiculous. If I do that for more than 30 seconds I get pins and needles and my whole arm goes numb.
It's been that way for as long as I can remember and I don't see how it'd be any different for anyone else; how is that supposed to be the most suitable, what
-Atri-
3,049 posts
Joined March 2013
-Atri-
Sometimes i put something soft under my arm / wrist, it might help
FrzR
2,237 posts
Joined October 2012
FrzR

Bauxe wrote:

If your hand hurts, stop fucking playing the game.

(I know you pretty much posted this, but its the main point. The amount of people who post going "MY HAND HURTS A LOT SHOULD I KEEP PLAYING??" is a bit ridiculous)
Inb4 masochism
E m i
E m i

lilelf29 wrote:

Wtf that correct arm/wrist position is ridiculous. If I do that for more than 30 seconds I get pins and needles and my whole arm goes numb.
It's been that way for as long as I can remember and I don't see how it'd be any different for anyone else; how is that supposed to be the most suitable, what

Wikipedia wrote:

Normal pressure of the carpal tunnel has been defined as a range of 2–10 mm, and wrist flexion increases this pressure 8-fold, while extension increases it 10-fold.
Xayne
240 posts
Joined August 2013
Xayne

Bauxe wrote:

If your hand hurts, stop fucking playing the game.

(I know you pretty much posted this, but its the main point. The amount of people who post going "MY HAND HURTS A LOT SHOULD I KEEP PLAYING??" is a bit ridiculous)
I would say the type of pain you are feeling determines the answer to this question. If it's just the burning pain you get after streaming for longer periods than you are accustomed to, I wouldn't tell someone to just stop playing from that. Pressing through that is how you build up more stamina in the first place. If someone were to stop immediately as soon as they felt that burn, the increase in stamina would be ridiculously slow. It's the same reason working out hurts. You're pushing your muscles beyond the point they are used to being pushed. However, when it comes to a point where the pain continues after a 20-30 second break, it's time to wrap up the playing session. At that point the muscles need to heal and rebuild, and when they do, BOOM. More stamina. Rinse and repeat.

Then there's the cramping and sharp pain. If it's that, yeah. Keep your ass away from the keyboard.


Just a side note this isn't directed at you. I'm sure you're more than aware on how building stamina works. Just kinda rambling on for those who would confuse the term "hurting" with all types of pain.
I Give Up
1,648 posts
Joined January 2014
I Give Up
This: play more -> muscle damage -> take break -> tissue repair -> get skill.

And not this: play more -> muscle damage -> play more!? -> ligament/tendon damage -> get RSI.
Cladnic
3 posts
Joined August 2013
Cladnic
Hello :)

My personal advice to avoid any injuries is to take small breaks when you play. This way you let your hands rest and regain their strength. The secound advice is to have your elbowes resing on something that is in the same height as your keyboard and your mouse/tablet. You should also try to relax while playing :)
pkhg
2,507 posts
Joined May 2010
pkhg
I've never experienced pain or something like that in my 5 years here.
i play a lot stream maps in a row everyday 'cause i really like to stream and usually i dont feel pain and when i get tired i only need like 1~2 mins to recover myself
maybe there's something is wrong with me :/
DeletedUser_4329079
DeletedUser_4329079

pkhg wrote:

I've never experienced pain or something like that in my 5 years here.
i play a lot stream maps in a row everyday 'cause i really like to stream and usually i dont feel pain and when i get tired i only need like 1~2 mins to recover myself
maybe there's something is wrong with me :/
Nah, you are fine. Genetics is an important factor there; some people may get RSI quite easily while other people never get it even if they play more.
Dashesd
9 posts
Joined June 2013
Dashesd
If ur feeling pain/hurt from playing this game. ..clearly means that your lacking exercise that involves your hands/arm
for being a hardcore gamer
E m i
E m i
ye no pain no gain
PatZar
3,079 posts
Joined March 2013
PatZar
oh i playing the wrong side
drum drum
osu! Alumni
2,972 posts
Joined May 2014
drum drum
don't necropost please
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