From back pain, to the large amount of space required to house your eSports setup, we’ve covered some simple solutions for your gamer problems.
Back pain
Back pain is one of the most common gamer complaints we hear, as a result of remaining in a seated position for extended periods of time.
Static seated positions most commonly cause lower back pain, and maintaining poor posture such as leaning forward can also cause neck and shoulder pain to develop over time, as the muscles that are meant to hold your head in the correct position become weak and unable to maintain correct posture.
A solution to back pain is investing in a high quality gamers chair that has been ergonomically designed and is set at the correct height for the gamer.
To ensure your seat is correctly setup, adjust the chair so that:
- Feet are flat on the floor
- Adjust the lumbar support to fit your lower back curve
- Move your tailbone and hips to the back of the seat and gently rest your spine on the backrest
- Adjust the armrests to be comfortable and allow the weight of your arms to be supported
- Regularly check and adjust your posture, use a timer to remind yourself
- Take breaks, stand up, move around and stretch to reset your posture.
Your spine will thank you for years to come.
Gamer’s Thumb
Have you ever experienced hand pain as a result of increased gaming sessions? Another common gamer pain complaint is ‘gamer’s thumb’, technically known as De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis¹. Gamer’s thumb is common for console gamers who use a repetitive thumb motion, and over time can cause weakness and changes to the tendon elasticity.
The immediate solution is rest and splinting with a specialist splint. Once the pain has subsided, regular physiotherapy and specific exercises are recommended to improve strength.
Treatment options include:
- Rest
- Splinting
- NSAIDs
The condition is more common in women, and if conservative treatment fails, cortisone injections and or surgery will be required to relieve the pain.
Size of Gaming Setup
Gaming setups can be cumbersome and take up a lot of space. Particularly if your gaming setup is located in your bedroom or the lounge area where space is limited, investing in a compact, purpose-built desk is a necessity.
There are now ultra compact portable gaming pods on the market that collapse and set up in seconds, and pack away to neatly fit in a cupboard or against a wall.
Features to look for:
- Recessed monitor facility
- Built in storage for tower or console
- Easy of setup and pack away
Which leads us to another problem, stability of the desk…
Sturdiness and Durability
There’s nothing worse than a wobbly desk when you’re deep into a gaming session. To ensure you’re investing in a solid and durable table, look for features such as
- Engineered steel construction
- High quality footings and castors
- Powder coated finish
Design
Finding a gaming desk that fits your console or PC can be challenging. Typical L-shaped desks are often not designed with the tower or console in mind.
To solve this problem, choose a design that is customised to fit with a dedicated area for tower or console storage, plus look for desk designs that conveniently house your monitor in a recessed area to make the most of your available space and for the convenience of an all-in-one design.
Form follows function, and an engineered design results in the solving of several common problems faced by gamers.
Conclusion
Follow our simple steps above to help get the best out of your gaming experience. The key outcomes being comfort and ease of use, and investing in your setup will bring you enjoyment for years to come.
Is there anything else you’d like to see added to this list? Let us know!
Happy gaming.