- Do you play video games on all devices combined for more than 15 hours a week?
- Do you feel pain, tightness or discomfort with your thumbs, fingers, or wrists?
- Do your thumbs or fingers feel tired during or after gaming?
If your answer is yes to any of these questions, Thumb Armor is for you.
Common injuries suffered
by video gamers:
Trigger Finger / Thumb
Trigger finger and trigger thumb (medically referred to as stenosing tenosynovitis) can occur when the tendons in a thumb and/or finger do not glide smoothly, causing them to catch or get stuck when they bend. The condition can make it difficult to straighten out the finger or thumb and can also cause pain and swelling. Repetitive hand use and prolonged gripping – such as during gaming – are thought to increase the chance of developing it.
Gamer’s Thumb, Gamer’s Wrist or De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
Gamer’s thumb or gamer’s wrist (medically called de Quervain’s tenosynovitis) is a painful condition that affects the tendons in the wrist that are responsible for moving the thumb.
The tendons in the wrist and lower thumb usually glide smoothly through a sheath between the wrist and the base of the thumb. However, gamer’s thumb causes inflammation and thickening of the sheath’s lining around the tendons and makes movement of the thumb painful.
Gamer’s thumb is thought to be triggered by repetitive motions in the hand and wrist (common during gaming) that can irritate the sheath around the tendons. The condition can occur suddenly, but more often develops over time.
Symptoms may include:
- Soreness and swelling near the base of the thumb
- Pain or difficulty moving the thumb and wrist, such as while pinching, wringing, or grasping
- Numbness along the thumb and index finger
- A sticking or snapping sensation when moving the thumb