Introduction - what "handlocking" is
I have an issue where one of my hands will randomly stop moving properly - while I can stop moving it and move it in general directions, I cannot move it with any form of precision. This lasts for about 20-35 seconds before I regain full control, and will cause a choke at the very least, if not very likely map failure.
I can often feel when it will happen with a few seconds' warning.
When and how often it happens
It happens once a play session, maybe more if the session is very long (more than 90 minutes).
It is more likely to happen during stressful situations (e.g. tournaments) and when tired.
There is also a strongly related issue where when I'm standing up and walking around, I will lose control of one or more random limbs in the same way as handlocking, and regain it after. This is especially likely to happen when I start to run.
How long it has been happening
This has been happening since early 2023.
The effects in practice
While I can generally pause the game to avoid effects, restarting will almost always cause me to break combo or notably drop accuracy. It can also cause significant nerves.
However, in tournaments, there is no pausing. I've lost at least four maps, and a match (CBT3 QF), because of it.
What handlocking is not, and what I know about the cause
It has been under various forms of medical investigation since mid-2023. As of July 2024, a genetic analysis is being run for signs of suspected causes.
I have an issue where one of my hands will randomly stop moving properly - while I can stop moving it and move it in general directions, I cannot move it with any form of precision. This lasts for about 20-35 seconds before I regain full control, and will cause a choke at the very least, if not very likely map failure.
I can often feel when it will happen with a few seconds' warning.
When and how often it happens
It happens once a play session, maybe more if the session is very long (more than 90 minutes).
It is more likely to happen during stressful situations (e.g. tournaments) and when tired.
There is also a strongly related issue where when I'm standing up and walking around, I will lose control of one or more random limbs in the same way as handlocking, and regain it after. This is especially likely to happen when I start to run.
How long it has been happening
This has been happening since early 2023.
The effects in practice
While I can generally pause the game to avoid effects, restarting will almost always cause me to break combo or notably drop accuracy. It can also cause significant nerves.
However, in tournaments, there is no pausing. I've lost at least four maps, and a match (CBT3 QF), because of it.
What handlocking is not, and what I know about the cause
It has been under various forms of medical investigation since mid-2023. As of July 2024, a genetic analysis is being run for signs of suspected causes.
- It is not a hand strain issue. Hand strain feels noticeably different, and handlocking doesn't depend on amount of play or excessive (physical) pressure.
- It does not cause me to lose consciousness in any way. I can see, hear, and think normally. Notably, however, I do sometimes have trouble speaking due to my tongue not moving properly, but this goes away after I regain control.
- Do you have a similar issue? Do you know someone else with this issue? If so, do you have any idea what causes it?
- Does anyone in the tournament community have this issue? I doubt it, but it would be interesting to know how they handle it.