Moniter setup and Wrist/arm help for multitabler

[sublime]

I play anywhere from 4-7 tables on two 2001's. my wrist hurts and my elbow hurts when i play for any significant amount of time. my monitor setup is a slight v shape probably about 18 inches from the fronnt edge of my desk.

okay so now you have all the variables so help me. i suppose my main questions are:

is there something I can get from my elbow so when its rested on desk it doesn't hurt? or is it not good to elevate it?

wrist guard? which one? the best please.

i use a logitech mouse and one of those pads with the jelly thing (which i find awkward to rest my hand on BTW and usually don't use)

im [censored]

[Zelcious]

Maybe you should buy a powerball and work up your strength. I heard its good for mouse arm. Dunno if its true though.

[bkholdem]

I only multi table 4 on my laptop but I have a sweet 'workstation'. I have the laptop on the end table and play while laying down on my side on the couch. The TV is also in the background. Your in your own home. Why work sitting down when you can work lying down? lol.

[NoTalent]

Just like your title, it sounds like Carpal Tunnel. This is serious, and I expect many online players to develop it. Sitting at your desk mousing for 8 hours a day is not healthy.

I would recommend using "mouseless poker" suggestions set up for your multi-tabling that you do. keep your wrist straight and try to stretch and take breaks if possible.

I don't play that much, and when I do I usually 4 table. I have a numpad only setup with the mouseless poker and I can play without pain for 6 hours.

edit:
Here was the original thread
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...Number=2045207

[sublime]

yeah, i tried the mouseless poker and just havemt developed the 'feel' for it. however, i dont want to be a gimp either. maybe i can tinker with the mouseless setting enough to fit my comfort zone.

[TStoneMBD]

do my setup, you wont regret it.

buy a recliner and a bench where the height is about the size of the recliner's armrest.

put the bench to the side of the recliner and put the monitors on the bench.

position the mouse on the armrest. if you have a crappy ball mouse you have to get a lazer for this to work.

now when you use your mouse your elbow will be touching the armrest and you wont get carpal tunnel or any pain. its also much more comfortable sitting on a recliner all day instead of a computer chair.

if you dont like having to look to your right/left in order to see the monitors, you can purchase one of those $20 carts that go over your recliner, so that you can look directly ahead at them, and then just move the cart out of the way when you want to get up.

[sublime]

do you use the all right hand one? or two hands one?

[Rudbaeck]

Are the screens at the proper height? If you look straight ahead your eyes should be about 75% up the vertical height of the monitor. (Almost everyone has their monitor too low, causing them to hunch over.)

Get a vertical mouse, I like the ones from Evoluent. Least retraining for a 'new' pointer device. You hold it in a hand-shake grip instead of in the traditional supinated position. Which atleast stop your forearm bones from grating together against your wrist.

Is your chair good? And is the proper height compared to your desk? If the soles of your feet are flat against the floor your knees should bend at 90degrees, and when your upper arm is vertical your elbow should bend at 90degrees when gripping the mouse.

Tried out other chairs? Some people love the kneeling chairs, as well as the bizarre inflatable ball chairs. The Aeron is off course a good baseline.

Get a left handed mouse, preferably a vertical one as well. Get a couple of different trackballs. I'm particularly fond of the ones you can attach to one hand, and run with the other. Lets you vary position alot.

With a host of different pointing devices, and a strict regimen of upper body and back workout you can probably avoid RSI as a full time online pro. Probably. Atleast long enough for a revolution of input devices that don't make people into cripples.

[sublime]

Are the screens at the proper height? If you look straight ahead your eyes should be about 75% up the vertical height of the monitor. (Almost everyone has their monitor too low, causing them to hunch over.)

i am somewhat confused by this. if i look straight ahead i am looking at the top 30% of desktop space, are you saying i should be looking at like 50% of it?

i do a lot of hunching over, yes.

[Rudbaeck]

[ QUOTE ]
i am somewhat confused by this. if i look straight ahead i am looking at the top 30% of desktop space, are you saying i should be looking at like 50% of it?

i do a lot of hunching over, yes.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like you are in the right spot. But now I realize this recommendation is for standard office work, and you utilize far more screen area constantly when multitabling than when working on a text document or spreadsheet. Try elevating the monitors a bit more. You should be forced to sit with a straight back when looking comfortably at your screens.

I've got a 21" monitor here, I'm 6'4" tall and the bottom of my actual windows desktop (ie, the bottom of the taskbar) is elevated almost exactly 16" above my desk. My eye level is 24.4" above the desk, so that puts it 68% up the vertical of the monitor.

This is sitting with 90 degree bends in knees, hips and elbow, with the lower arm resting on the desk. Shoulder is relaxed.

I might try raising my monitor another inch.