how's your hand? how's your neck?
polycounter lvl 12
ahh...age is catching up to us it seems. i discover that a lot of animators here are fairly young (and hugely talented i discover) which means they havent had the chance to deteriorate like us old guys. I'm 34, started with imagine and later lightwave on the amiga. i've been doing 3d for 20 years now.
the reason im writing this post is i've started to get a really annoying pain in my left palm which is coming from my elbow. i talked to a doctor and he said my neck is at fault. wut? yes. its from looking down at the monitor all the time, day in day out. so i put a frozen pad on my elbow per doctors orders, and used my old books (learn maya 2.0 and max 4) to prop my monitor up to eye level, just in case i learn to stand a little better, and avoid taking medication.
so , my advice: take care of your posture guys and gals. its worth to invest in a good high backed chair, keep your elbows on the desk, etc etc. i know a lot of people in the game industry work crazy hours, take care of yourselves!
anybody with similar aches / injuries? :poly122: :poly121:
the reason im writing this post is i've started to get a really annoying pain in my left palm which is coming from my elbow. i talked to a doctor and he said my neck is at fault. wut? yes. its from looking down at the monitor all the time, day in day out. so i put a frozen pad on my elbow per doctors orders, and used my old books (learn maya 2.0 and max 4) to prop my monitor up to eye level, just in case i learn to stand a little better, and avoid taking medication.
so , my advice: take care of your posture guys and gals. its worth to invest in a good high backed chair, keep your elbows on the desk, etc etc. i know a lot of people in the game industry work crazy hours, take care of yourselves!
anybody with similar aches / injuries? :poly122: :poly121:
Replies
What I do to remedy this is:
- Weight train (both heavy and light):
Maintaining muscles mass and force body to keep strengthening your muscle attachments, increase skeletal mass (very important for our generation). Any type of exercise works fine, as long as its continuous and several times a week.
- Do micro-stretches of neck, forearms, shoulders and spines at least once or twice an hour(!). This is mostly to reduce strain caused by stiff muscles and to increase blood flow.
- Use hand trainers, rubber rings (no not the kind use at lemon parties, guys) , gyro balls, soft silicone balls and when you get a bit more advanced, go do some tries on RB-grippers. Forcing your hands to work on a daily basis will increase blood flow and strengthen your inner finger muscles and minor coordination stuff.
I have a rubber rings at work and at home, specially for hand training, that is silent, quite soft and doesnt make noises.
- Stretch your entire body at least once or twice a week. You should also stretch your hamstrings, deep lower back muslces at least 3-4 times a week, along with quads and hip flexors. This is to reduce the low-intensity fatigue from short and stiff hips muscles.
- Take 15 minutes walks during lunches and minor coffebreaks (if you're allowed) instead of changing one chair to another!
You should also give yourself time off the computer, at least one evening after work should be a computer "free".
I could give examples of stretches and equipment if anyone is interested.
(Out of all the chairs to pick i pick the recalled one, awesome...)
I dropped it down to it's lowest point because my desk I guess is lower to the ground, I put paddings at the arm rests/leveled to the mouse and keyboard. (leveled off is important)
All of what MetalMind said &:
Also exercise regularly now, I lost 40lbs in like (1-3 months, didn't time-frame It but It felt really short.) by just running and eating right(6 small meals, anyone want my routine for that just ask.) NO MORE SODA!(KEY)
I've been really wanting to create or get into the standing desk options because of the benefits I've read about like this one, standing up will help you live longer! Imagine that, not that I am trying to break any Guinness records here but I was surprised to read that.
After reading about that I don't think we are meant to sit for long durations of time.
If we were as active or active while working as much as we sit (which is an idea I have.) then we all be in better health and shape.
Taking breaks from staring at the screen ever 15 mins for 2-5 minutes will probably save your eyes some strain as well as your neck, but posture is definitely an important factor if your having body aches and granted I love to slouch and do It often.:poly122:
Now after my intense workouts in the past I take It easier now and workout only about 30-1h instead of the 1-2:30hours when I started.
Also did not do no P90X B.S. It does work for some and is only meant to loose weight not gain much muscle mass from what I've seen on youtube but I made my own routine with what I thought I needed.
Edit: good luck Nvrmnd.
The youTube videos of it are all people trying to rip their wrist in two getting the highest rotation score but used as a slow 5min per hand exercise it really takes the strain out between heavy art sessions. Seems to improve grip and strength on the side too.
Pretty sure they are available all over the place I grabbed mine in the UK and took it to Iceland with me.
*edit* Forgot link
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Powerball-Neon-White-Pro-Signature/dp/B000MLPGZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348677000&sr=8-1"]Powerball Neon White Pro Signature: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors[/ame]
Sorry, couldn't help it
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Good thread - advice noted; I'll look into getting a stand up desk for home, and sign up at the gym asap!
-Stretch your neck and back muscles once every other day at least(you can see a physical therapist in your area and they can give you some good ones)
-get in a good 30 minute walk every day if you can(afternoons are best to break up the time you spend sitting)
-Drink water(try to phase out all sodas you drink)
-Get up and move around for 5-10 mins every hour(So your body isn't spending long periods of time idle)
-Pick up a sport(something that get you moving around. Sorry guys, e-sports dont count:poly124:)
Another important thing to keep in mind if your a bigger guy and out of shape. Diving right in to jogging can be bad for your knees. Try to lose some weight first and strengthen your knees with some biking. Its a good low impact aerobic exercise.
Develop good habits, good posture, and a safe workspace -- and develop a body that's capable of overcoming day to day life without any pieces snapping off.
I play a really tough sport as a hobby
-- my body is more than ready to handle a couple of hours in a chair if it comes to that. Age isnt an excuse not to exercise -- it only becomes MORE important as your body starts to wind down. I see 50 yearolds with office jobs spar full contact with ufc fighters. They can do this because they run, exercise, and stretch every single day -- they sure as hell aren't worried about slipping a disk just from sitting funny.
Also swimming would do wonders for your back..... can't recommend it enough. Too bad where I live I don't have a good swimming pool.
I wonder if building your own standing desk would be a good idea?
Might have to give that a shot one day.
Once you make a change in your diet and do say 15-30 minute Run/jog/jumping jacks(starters)/bike/swim activity a day, I don't know about you but I want more.
When you don't want to do anything is the day you should and It happens to me a lot, fighting to be lazy is a trip sometimes It can win and that's when you start going back to your old ways.
I know cause I've tried to do this 3 times already, trying to be healthy and fit since I was 18.
Glad to see some PC-ers Pming me for some info that's awesome, first step is the easiest. Just to give a better idea, I did have a lot of trial and error time and we all are different so you have to know your body and find out what works for you. Activity level, metabolism, family medical history, these things are important to know. If you want you could find a GOOD physical trainer, I am not one. Just giving information about what I did and hopefully you can adjust what I did for your daily living.
Exercising is almost like a drug, but It's the best one you should be taking.
by standing desk i imagine they mean a "workbench height" as i know it, a table that is about 15-20cm higher than an average desk, like for instance a kitchen counter.
I suppose that it comes down to a matter of personal reference. I find change of scenery, wether it be from my monitor to a dumbell rack in the gym, or a indoor swimming pool, quite mentally strengthening and a way to overcome...myself I guess.
First and foremost, you do what you think is enough for you, unless told otherwise from a doctor or something.
In general, the home gym equipment you can buy are low in quality compared to the equipment held at "real" gym. I've never felt safe in a home gym equipment (at least not that has anything to with weight lifting). Its all from quailty in the wires, to the safety of steel structures (welding), not to mention evenly balanced weight plates.
But this has little matter if you don't like to get to the gym!
Just breaking the habits that makes your body ache at the computer, is well enough, and should be, for alot of people.
What other options do I have?
As for the gym, my wife and I go to an actual gym 3-4 times a week. We tend to go at 6am and we take pretty intense classes there (boot camp style stuff, lots of running and strength training). That works best for us. I find that I work out best if someone is riding me and making sure I do it. Plus, by going at 6am, we're done by 7am and then I have the whole day in front of me.
If you can afford $1.29 X 5 you can afford a standup desk. I didn't feel like dealing with the doctor's note/paperwork/red tape of having a standup desk ordered for work so I made a run to Home Depot and bought 5 cinderblocks for my L shaped desk. It's surprisingly sturdy! However the desks we have here do have a crank to adjust the height in smaller amounts, so I'd suggest you measure your desk and desired height first if you don't have this.
And lift weights. Don't have many coworkers with these problems if they hit the gym 2-3 times a week.
Bad neck and posture is a direct result of poor core strength
Btw.. Sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day is worse than smoking a pack a day, and drinking a pint of beer.
right. who can work with only the mouse? is this 1980? even on the amiga i was with one hand on the keyboard....
Your choice.
i got one and its ace
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Powerball-Neon-White-Pro-Signature/dp/B000MLPGZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350397396&sr=8-1"]Powerball Neon White Pro Signature: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors[/ame]
:shifty: hmmm i'm tempted.
unfortunately there are 3 of them in the house i live, and at work there are a few too.
those could cause severe neck pain due to wind
earned cronic tonsolitis that way
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and massage (without happy ending)
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Just went to the doctor cause I was having alot of knee pain. Turns out it's probably from stiffness in my back from, you guessed it, sitting at the computer too much.
so yeah my pinky and the finger next to it are permanently numb, the palm area of my pinky finger numb too. I have got used to it over the years
neck pain/back pain - ended up in casualty last year from a pain in my ear lobe which basically come from bad posture. never felt pain like it before or since.
been doing art/airbrush since 1988, 3d since 1995.
At least doing art/painting airsbrush I used to stand up a a fair bit so it wasn't so bad
I really need to go to the doctor about it again though. When I asked about my back he said it was due to the constant movements of my right arm. I think one issue causing it these days is that my cintiqs are both on pretty high tables and I need to hold my hand up to at least collar-bone height if not taller to use them... I think my next desk setup needs to be shorter and it should help some of this. It's tough.
@ OP you are 34 man and you sound like your going on 64, get out and move ffs my dad will be 71 this year and only ever complains about his memory:poly121:. The human body has not evolved for the mouse & keyboard and if you are too lazy to actually move that body, on your own head be it.
Active people suffer from muscle pain, do the maths :thumbup: