How can I prevent injuries from melee?

[tbird99]

Sometimes I get pain on the inside of my palm under my thumb and my hands get sore after tournaments/playing a lot. I don't want to have any hand problems from playing, so how can I prevent stuff like this from happening?

 

[Comet7]

take breaks/play less, look up and use hand stretches.

 

[F. Stein]

There are a variety of hand stretches and dietary recommendations that can be found on the internet when you search for "joint health" because the pains that you are receiving are likely linked to joints and ligaments. Intense gaming is actually a physical sport for smashers because it requires such complex, swift and repetitive movements. With this in mind, you need to consider how other athletes take care of their bodies.

While I'm not saying that you need to do full body stretches like a baseball player, it is helpful to understand that you are physically and mentally performing on a level that is beyond the casual play of any game when you seriously participate in tournaments for any length of time. If I was going to narrow your search for stretches I would say that you should look up what professional pianists and/or other musicians use to limber up their hands and keep them from developing any injuries.

Also, having a healthy intake of water is essential for overall joint health so I would always recommend that you are well hydrated and have a healthy diet so that your body can perform without injuring itself. Other forms of exercise to strengthen your forearms and hands could also be considered helpful to avoid injury. So things like playing the piano, boxing, curls, any exercise that engages your hands and forearms will benefit your body's ability to handle intensive gaming sessions if they are done correctly and safely. lol, never thought I'd consider the effects of diet and health for a smasher.

Inspiration for these thoughts: Bruce Lee who viewed stretching as a completely necessary part of his workouts and likened the necessity to that of a Ballet Dancer because they stretch and ready their bodies for hours before performances. Maybe some sort of stretching routine before sets or tournaments would be a good idea.

 

[-ACE-]

Listen to pain. Don't ignore it. It's a natural indicator that you're breeching your barriers. Take brakes and/or try to adjust your style so that your hands and inputs are less tense. Try to relax.

 

[tbird99]

There are a variety of hand stretches and dietary recommendations that can be found on the internet when you search for "joint health" because the pains that you are receiving are likely linked to joints and ligaments. Intense gaming is actually a physical sport for smashers because it requires such complex, swift and repetitive movements. With this in mind, you need to consider how other athletes take care of their bodies.

While I'm not saying that you need to do full body stretches like a baseball player, it is helpful to understand that you are physically and mentally performing on a level that is beyond the casual play of any game when you seriously participate in tournaments for any length of time. If I was going to narrow your search for stretches I would say that you should look up what professional pianists and/or other musicians use to limber up their hands and keep them from developing any injuries.

Also, having a healthy intake of water is essential for overall joint health so I would always recommend that you are well hydrated and have a healthy diet so that your body can perform without injuring itself. Other forms of exercise to strengthen your forearms and hands could also be considered helpful to avoid injury. So things like playing the piano, boxing, curls, any exercise that engages your hands and forearms will benefit your body's ability to handle intensive gaming sessions if they are done correctly and safely. lol, never thought I'd consider the effects of diet and health for a smasher.

Inspiration for these thoughts: Bruce Lee who viewed stretching as a completely necessary part of his workouts and likened the necessity to that of a Ballet Dancer because they stretch and ready their bodies for hours before performances. Maybe some sort of stretching routine before sets or tournaments would be a good idea.

I actually do warm up stretches for about 5 minutes and stretches for 10-15 after when I play for long periods of time. I've noticed that I usually get pain in places I don't know how to stretch such as the outside of my wrist (could be from holding the controller in a bad position) and that pain in my thumbs. The pain in my thumbs (mainly in my left thumb) can start after like only 15 and its in the part of my thumb that moves the control stick left. Are there stretches/ strengthening exercises that would help with this?

 

[Michelangelo]

Listen to pain. Don't ignore it. It's a natural indicator that you're breeching your barriers. Take brakes and/or try to adjust your style so that your hands and inputs are less tense. Try to relax.

Basicly this what ace said. Pain tells you to calm down and let your body rest from the hard work. Hand exercises will help too.
If you do ever feel pain and it doesn't go away, don't be affraid to see the docter.

 

[Sutekh]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmMfW2kCkeE

 

[Ladder]

Play jigglypuff.

 

[GenNyan]

Other forms of exercise to strengthen your forearms and hands could also be considered helpful to avoid injury. So things like playing the piano, boxing, curls, any exercise that engages your hands and forearms will benefit your body's ability to handle intensive gaming sessions if they are done correctly and safely.

Hmm. Do you have a source for this? I feel like more stress on your hands can only be worse for them in terms of preventing Repetitive Strain Injury. Could help prevent other things like De Quervains though, idk.

 

[Melansjf]

Sometimes I get pain on the inside of my palm under my thumb and my hands get sore after tournaments/playing a lot. I don't want to have any hand problems from playing, so how can I prevent stuff like this from happening?

Stretches are nice, and can help.
But if you still feel the slightest bit of irritation you should probably see a doctor just to make sure. I know it sounds stupid, but thumbs are pretty important in daily life, and doing this has the potential to damage them then you should try to find out what's going on.
Has the always happened or is it relatively recent? Is it a sharp pain or uncomfortable throbbing? Does it linger for hours after the initial irritation?
The length, intensity and frequency of the pain are all things you should sort out for a doctor. If you feel anything new start to develop, then you should write it down in order to keep track of it.


(This post was brought to you, in part, by doctors)

 

[DeadBeef]

I have recently started to take smash melee serious and when I first start training with my team i could only play for so long before i has in terrible pain. Stretching helps and is very import be for playing, but you need to train to take the strain. i am now able to play for 3 to 4 hour straight before i reach my barrier. you just need to keep practicing and do not go past the barrier ever that is when you start to getting serious hand problems.

to help train every night before bed I play till I start to feel the slightest pain the stop, then in the morning repeat. this has worked for me and it now takes 3 to 4 hours before I feel the slightest pain.

 

[tbird99]

Stretches are nice, and can help.
But if you still feel the slightest bit of irritation you should probably see a doctor just to make sure. I know it sounds stupid, but thumbs are pretty important in daily life, and doing this has the potential to damage them then you should try to find out what's going on.
Has the always happened or is it relatively recent? Is it a sharp pain or uncomfortable throbbing? Does it linger for hours after the initial irritation?
The length, intensity and frequency of the pain are all things you should sort out for a doctor. If you feel anything new start to develop, then you should write it down in order to keep track of it.


(This post was brought to you, in part, by doctors)

It goes away very quickly after I stop. It's doesn't hurt that much, but it starts much more quickly than anything else I feel. It's the part of my thumb that allows me to move the control stick inwards. The pain feels more like soreness/tiredness than anything. I don't know how to stretch these muscles though

 

[F. Stein]

Same stretches that piano players use, i'd recommend Youtube. It's going to get you more results than asking here.