Cramps in your hands while playing DS

[nicolasmasset]

Hi,

I play advance wars without the stylus as it works much faster and efficient, but after a couple of hours, I really get cramps in my right hand cause the A button is so freakin close to the edge of the system! It's an akward positioning, keeping your hand under the heavy ds to support it, but at the same time move your thumb to the very right hand side to hit the a button every 2 seconds! :s

My guess is the DS could have been far more ergonomical if they moved the button formation a bit inwards so your thumb would be allowed a more natural extention when reaching for the buttons.

Any thoughts?

[Marshmellow]

umm i guess i usually dont play it that long but i get cramps from typing on the computer excessively lol but yah i guess that would make sense to move the buttons south a little easier to push on hard-core touch screen games...

[craig]

Yeah I get cramps too but only after a few hours of gaming.
I have big hands and long fingers and my thumb has to go back a bt to reach the a,b,x,y buttons.

Suppose you cant please everyone.

[MidnightSun]

I know a lot of people get cramps in their hands after long sessions with the DS, but personally I never do.

I think the DS is oddly shaped, but it feels perfect in my hands... I do however get cramps in my hands after playing the orignal GBA for a peroid of time (and I never used to before I got a DS...)

[Charlie]

I get sore elbows after playing for about 30 mins... :/
Only when I'm using the stylus though...

[Mimternet]

Repetitive Strain Injury :)

You should just take a break every hour or so to stretch your hands, it's not healthy to be doing the same thing over and over for so long. It's not just the DS that causes pain if you do the activity for too long.

[Goron_3]

I'm loving my DS, but as I have massive hands I get crapmps after playing for only 30 minutes! It hurts even more when I have to support the DS with my left hand use the stylus! IT'S KILLING ME! :weep:

[Tiz]

Yea my hand was in a lot of pain when I finally completed the second last stage of ouendan in the hardest difficulty (cheerleader mode). But.. I must tell you that it was no easy task and took hours and hours to do it. Now im taking a weeks break before attempting the final level ;)

[craig]

Yea my hand was in a lot of pain when I finally completed the second last stage of ouendan in the hardest difficulty (cheerleader mode). But.. I must tell you that it was no easy task and took hours and hours to do it. Now im taking a weeks break before attempting the final level ;)

I dont get cramps when playing Ouendan, just the feeling I might need to go on an anger management course.

[ViPeR]

Hi,

I play advance wars without the stylus as it works much faster and efficient

I'm the opposite I only use the stylus apart from pressing B occasionally to exit an option. It's like most things you play extensively, consoles, PC's. You're going to get cramp as your fingers are constantly in a forced position doing the same thing. First rule of playing computer games, take a break every 15 minutes kids :heh:

[Din]

Yeah, when I hold the DS for a long time my hands start to ache a little. That's why I normally play GBA games on the GBA as I prefer it to hold.

[nicolasmasset]

Mariokart is killing my hands!

[Shorty]

Wha? How can advance wars possibly be faster without the stylus? You don't have to scroll through the enemies or hit the d-pad for choosing your movements....

But in answer to your actual point - yeah I find the DS pretty uncomfortable.

[BGS]

Yeah, I totally agree with the original post. It's probably just because I've got biggish hands but the a button really is too close to the edge of the screen. Didn't get cramp with advance wars though, i've only really noticed it since I got Mario Kart and then it happens with left on the dpad too.

About advance wars - I find it quicker playing without the stylus too actually. I find when I'm playing with the stylus it's not as precise as i'd like it to be and I end up having to correct things a lot, taking up more time. I way prefer the dpad and buttons to it for that game.

[Atomic Boo]

yeah im peed off with it as well. i reckon the problem is that the DS is square shaped and your hands dont mould round them well, my hands hurt a bit while im playin because it isnt comfy and when you use the stylus it hurts even more because your getting cramp while holding it. the buttons are positioned badly, and they are too small.
fortunately metroid hunters is a charm if you get to grips with the thumbstrap and i replay it now and again just to keep my mind saying ' the real game is gonna rock this world ' using the stylus means you have to hold the DS with one hand and you have to shoot with the L button, which i dont like because im heavily right handed, with thumbstrap you can hold DS with both hands and press R button to shoot
maybe i should have waited for DS SP?

good thread btw

[Hero-of-Time]

The only thing that has hurt my hands is Mario Kart. I was playing Mission Mode non stop on release day until I finished all the missions with a 1 star ranking. When I finished I moved my left hand away from the DS and my Thumb was in some form o lock it was killing me. Ahwell the sacrifice is worth it to play Mazza kart.

[Sarka]

I havn't felt anything yet. I don't have MK though, and my hands are sturdy. I can make them bleed without feeling any pain. Thanks god I was brought up with the '64 controller when I was about 6 or 7. That thaught my hands a good lesson.

[Hero-of-Time]

I havn't felt anything yet. I don't have MK though, and my hands are sturdy. I can make them bleed without feeling any pain. Thanks god I was brought up with the '64 controller when I was about 6 or 7. That thaught my hands a good lesson.

Thats weird I found the 64 controller pretty easy on the hands. The only thing about the 64 controller that made me get a blister was playing some shyguy mini game on Mario Party where you had to spin the analogue stick extremely fast.

[Sarka]

Thats weird I found the 64 controller pretty easy on the hands. The only thing about the 64 controller that made me get a blister was playing some shyguy mini game on Mario Party where you had to spin the analogue stick extremely fast.

My hands had to change to make it comfy. When I first played it my hands were far to small and mishapen. Thanks to Nintendo they're fine! :hehe:

[The3rdChildren]

The answer here is to play the game over a period of years, with ten minute intervals here and there and week-long periods of rest. Mario Kart is especially a culprit here, with it's digital pad and powersliding, still most enjoyable. When you get a good item and storm into first place you almost forget your hands are screaming for you to take a break.

[bencallis]

Thats weird I found the 64 controller pretty easy on the hands. The only thing about the 64 controller that made me get a blister was playing some shyguy mini game on Mario Party where you had to spin the analogue stick extremely fast.


He he I rember that you were in a raft or boat of some sort and u had to spin the stick to move or something. Yeah that was painfull. :grin:

[Kristian]

I'm getting cramps, but that is in the left thumb. My right, however, is just fine. This, I believe, is becuase I press the A and B with the middle of my thumb instead of the tip. So I don't have to bend the thumb like a banana.

[Mimternet]

I hadn't noticed it with Stylus only games like Nintendogs and Kirby, but having just got Mario Kart DS it's very noticeable how the D-pad and face buttons are too high up. It's very uncomfortable to hold.

[James McGeachie]

I haven't had a problem with any games except Mario Kart DS. I can't imagine anyone playing that and NOT having cramps though because I don't even have large hands.

[LukeLee]

i have no problems, but i am used to it from playing tony hawks

[Hal_9Million]

My hands were very soar yesterday after playing mario kart non-stop for about 4 hours. When I get hand cramp, I can crack my knuckles loads. I find that Mario Kart is the only game however where this has happened. I also own, Wario Ware Touched, Nintendogs, Super Mario 64 DS, and The Metroid Prime Hunters First Hunt demo. None of these other games give my hands as much pain, of course, all of them have far different control styles to MKDS. WW and Nintendogs both rely heavily on the touch screen, so you don't have to hold the DS, and SM64DS doesn't require you to hold down any buttons for prolonged periods of time. I think Nintendo should have made the "B" button accelerate, or perhaps they should allow us to choose our own control system, which is never an option with most of their in-house games. Anyway, I just make sure I get plenty of breaks.

[nicolasmasset]

I was thinking of making something to solve my cramp problem. Something the DS could slide into with handles so your palms (grabbing the handles) could carry the DS's weight instead of your cramped up fingers. AND your thumbs would be able to extend properly to reach the buttons. I think the strain would be heavily reduced on my thumbs, since they (accompanied with the middle, pinkie and ring finger) are the ones that have to support the DS and at the same time press buttons, hence the cramps! Sorry for my lousy photoshop skills on the pic below: I cut up a cube controller for that one, but I don't think I'm going to cut up a controller. Maybe something out of wood ... Any thoughts?

[Mimternet]

Actually, mine's getting better. I've found a comfortable position and I think my thumb muscles must be getting stronger from the work out! haha. It's the right thumb that's the worst but I just changed the position from the tip to further down and it sorted it.

[Shorty]

About advance wars - I find it quicker playing without the stylus too actually. I find when I'm playing with the stylus it's not as precise as i'd like it to be and I end up having to correct things a lot, taking up more time. I way prefer the dpad and buttons to it for that game.
Try adjusting your config options a few times (using the bottom button on the startup screen) - I'd reccomend doing the config whilst holding and looking at your DS at the same angle that you usually play :)

[kav82]

hmmm, i guess i've just got weird hands, i dont find any problem playing mine for hours...

[AshMat]

I got this after playing MK for 4 hours solid

[wooks63]

I was thinking of making something to solve my cramp problem. Something the DS could slide into with handles so your palms (grabbing the handles) could carry the DS's weight instead of your cramped up fingers. AND your thumbs would be able to extend properly to reach the buttons. I think the strain would be heavily reduced on my thumbs, since they (accompanied with the middle, pinkie and ring finger) are the ones that have to support the DS and at the same time press buttons, hence the cramps! Sorry for my lousy photoshop skills on the pic below: I cut up a cube controller for that one, but I don't think I'm going to cut up a controller. Maybe something out of wood ... Any thoughts?

That looks similar to a rechargable power supply I bought for my original GBA. It made playing it a lot more comfortable.

I bought a Protect armour for my DS:-

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-b6-15-protect%2Barmour-70-paw-43-8s.html

This gives it a bit more bulk and seems to make holding it a bit easier.

[Ollie]

That looks similar to a rechargable power supply I bought for my original GBA. It made playing it a lot more comfortable.

I bought a Protect armour for my DS:-

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-b6-15-protect%2Barmour-70-paw-43-8s.html

This gives it a bit more bulk and seems to make holding it a bit easier.

I was just thinking about that exact item. A friend of mine has it and I thought I would get the same, as it bulks it out a bit and it protects it.

Not to mention I love the idea of having 'battle armour' for my DS :laughing:

[mike-zim]

the only problem i have is the L shoulder button on the DS when i play MK. it is awkward.

[The3rdChildren]

If you do anything for long enough it's bound to start hurting.

[glucoseaddict]

playin mario kart for a few hours gives me major cramps in my hands, but i guess that is just cause i have big hands. the ds isnt very ergonomically (" ") well designed - right angled corners all over the place - but im sure id find it fine if i had small hands.

but mario kart is the only game i get cramps from, maybe cause i play for hours without a rest. and only in my left hand with the d-pad, never take my thumb off the 'a' button so my right hand is grand. :heh:

might pick up the ds:sp if its nice and shapely.


and i only use the stylus when playin Advance Wars (top class game, btw) - cant imagine playin it with the d-pad but i guess it worked well for the gba version.

[Sprout]

I never get cramps when playing games. Used to, but, for some reason, now I don't. Weird eh.

[Mimternet]

I have to admit the problem initially experienced with Mario Kart has completely gone. I think my thumb muscles must have stretched or something. Probably just got used to the position.

[Eenuh]

playin mario kart for a few hours gives me major cramps in my hands, but i guess that is just cause i have big hands. the ds isnt very ergonomically (" ") well designed - right angled corners all over the place - but im sure id find it fine if i had small hands.

I have small hands and I still got a serious cramp in my right thumb. Not from playing it for hours, the first game of MK already. Had to keep pausing after a couple of laps because the pain got so bad. Now I think I've found a position for my hands that at least doesn't hurt my thumb anymore, or at least not too bad. It's just the edges of the DS leaving imprints in my handpalms now. Yay.

[Darkspark88]

Yeah, Played mario for 15 minutes and got cramps in my thumb. FOund the problem is having to press the A button and also the R shoulder button. Hands were not meant to be squeezed into this awkward position. It is very painful for the thumb. You should be able to play with your thumb outstretched more. I think having to press you thumb near to the edge of the DS in a hook position is cutting off the blood supply to my thumb, causing a cramp when you unhook your thumb from this position.

[Stefkov]

igott usded to the right side, i played SC on my DS before the game came so i was ok but my right thumb aches cos of the power slidiing, having to mve it left and right with my biggish hands..

[fatnickc]

My hands ache like mad after a race or two of Figure 8 Circuit against a friend on NWFC, due to the fact that we allow ourselves to snake like mad on that course. The fleshy part of my thumb has been really soar now since Thursday night, when my freidn picked Figure 8 Circuit 4 times in a row, and his choice went forward each time. Also, after the 2nd lap the bit of palm just between my thumb and index finger kills.