What to do about Rubik's wrist, RSI and pain related to cubing and other activies?

[somerandomkidmike]

I am from Saskatoon.

Back on topic. This "hunched back thing" is basically caused by muscles in the front of your body being shortened, because they are never stretched out. When it is left in this for a long period of time (over years) the bones in your body actually end up compensating, causing them to actually form to the shape of the shortened muscles. When the muscles are shortened enough, you get this hump back or hyperkyphosis.

 

[Mal]

What about getting sore fingers?

 

[timeless]

I am from Saskatoon.

Back on topic. This "hunched back thing" is basically caused by muscles in the front of your body being shortened, because they are never stretched out. When it is left in this for a long period of time (over years) the bones in your body actually end up compensating, causing them to actually form to the shape of the shortened muscles. When the muscles are shortened enough, you get this hump back or hyperkyphosis.

do you major in this area of science?

 

[somerandomkidmike]

Not really. I'm in school for Massage therapy. In Canada it's a 2200 hour course, and you have to learn all about this stuff. I may not be 100% accurate in the details, but I think it's generally correct.

 

[Mal]

Is getting sore fingers part of it?

 

[timeless]

Not really. I'm in school for Massage therapy. In Canada it's a 2200 hour course, and you have to learn all about this stuff. I may not be 100% accurate in the details, but I think it's generally correct.

have u heard about standing desks?
http://kylecordes.com/2010/standing-desk

 

[5BLD]

Ah that explains my little crisis a while back when i still used CFOP.
I never bothered cooling down, and one day my left hand hurt so much and kept twitching. I could still write in school though as it wasn't too bad. I stopped cubing for two weeks then got back into it but incorporating cooling down as I somehow realised cooling down was the problem. I play lots of music too so it's important to warm up and cool down.

 

[cannon4747]

cubing is unsafe lol

 

[5BLD]

No... You just need to do it in moderation and be aware of the dangers.
You could say typing is dangerous or playing music, in the same way and for the same reasons as cubing.
Just need to be aware of the dangers. Everything is potentially dangerous.

 

[Hershey]

I have been doing OH averages of 50 from 10/11 to maybe 10/14, how many days should I rest?

 

[somerandomkidmike]

I have been doing OH averages of 50 from 10/11 to maybe 10/14, how many days should I rest?

I can't really answer that. Just in general, I think you should know when you've done too much though. If you've done too much, then rest until you feel better. It would depend on the person.

 

[Mal]

HELLO? Is getting sore fingers part of it?

 

[Godmil]

I've probably typed my story a thousand times but it's kinda relevent so if you haven't heard it:

Spoiler

I first started cubing in 2002ish with a cheapy cube. With that and playing a lot of guitar and typing I did some major damage to my right wrist. I had to quit cubing cold-turkey, had to almost give up all use of a PC (I tried every kind of fancy mouse/controller and voice recognition software to get by during my studies) and had physiotherapy for a year. My problem was definitely posture based, something to do with how the nerves going up the back of my neck. To this day I only use a mouse with my left hand, and when I tried cubing again (about a year ago) I was sure I wasn't going to be able to stick with it. Thankfully cube technology today means you don't need to exert nearly as much force with your fingers (One reason I advocate starting with an easy to turn cube (GuHong, ZhanChi, etc.)). Anyway, my point is, if you're cubing and not stopping when it gets painful... ask yourself how it would feel to not be able to use any cube for 8-9 years.

 

[somerandomkidmike]

HELLO? Is getting sore fingers part of it?

Sore fingers can be related to some RSI's. It's quite possible that if you're new to cubing, you haven't built up the intrinsic muscles in your hand though. Just in general, if you're sore, quit. RSI's are much more common in the wrist and forearm, as far as I know.

 

[Mal]

So after doing OH average of 12 and my fingers are sore I should take a break and go outside? And when you mean quit do you seriously mean quit forever?

 

[somerandomkidmike]

No, I don't mean forever. If you REALLY overdo it, and actually damage some of the tissues in your arm, you would have to do that, but there's a long step between sore fingers, and actual damage. How long have you been cubing for? Has an average of 12 for your OH always made your fingers hurt?

 

[timeless]

No, I don't mean forever. If you REALLY overdo it, and actually damage some of the tissues in your arm, you would have to do that, but there's a long step between sore fingers, and actual damage. How long have you been cubing for? Has an average of 12 for your OH always made your fingers hurt?

same thing happened to me but mine dont hurt anymore after a month

but they still hurt for like a min after i do fingertip pushups, i dont do that many because it feels like my finger will snap

 

[Hershey]

Wouldn't your hands and fingers eventually get used to the pain you exert though?

 

[Cool Frog]

Wouldn't your hands and fingers eventually get used to the pain you exert though?

I would say yes...
but, I am not an expert on the subject.

seems to be about right... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding


I feel as if cubing has had some positive effects on my hands health, the blood circulation in my hands has gotten significantly better since before I was cubing, as I would always have very cold hands. While now my hands are warm nearly all the time.
However, there was this period where my hands would HURT all the time. But, I think this was in part of constantly "cracking" my fingers.

 

[somerandomkidmike]

Wouldn't your hands and fingers eventually get used to the pain you exert though?

Well, after a while, I'd say you'd build up the intrinsic muscles in your hands. That would help prevent you from having pain. It's more that the small muscles in your hand would protect you from pain, rather than just getting used to it. However, to a certain extent, yes, you would adapt as well.