Gaming used to be an activity where players would put in the time to play a couple of levels, maximizing playing time to about an hour. Now, players are playing for multiple hours, which often causes thumb blisters.
To prevent thumb blisters when gaming, players should take a small break, stretch after each match, and, if necessary, wear a thumb cover. Blisters occur from overuse and consistent friction.
Players are now playing for 3-4 hours in one sitting. The friction forced onto the gamer’s hands will cause blisters if not treated properly.
In this article, we will show you how to avoid thumb blisters when playing video games.
How Do I Prevent Blisters When Gaming?
First off – let’s learn what a blister is. To tackle a problem, we need to understand its foundation. According to medicalnewstoday.com,
A blister is a pocket of fluid between the upper layers of skin. The most common causes are friction, freezing, burning, infection, and chemical burns. Blisters are also a symptom of some diseases.
The blister bubble is formed from the epidermis, the uppermost layer of skin. Its purpose is to protect and cushion the layers below. Blisters can be filled with serum, plasma, blood or pus depending on how and where they are formed.
This stops further damage and gives the tissue time to heal.
Consistently smashing your thumbs or fingers on the controller can cause this. The constant hard press of the joystick along the inside of the thumb can cause blisters because of the consistent friction. Your body naturally tries to protect itself by creating these fluid-filled sacks.
These fluid-filled sacks are both painful and can cause a barrier in your gaming experience. Even the smallest blister can throw off the timing when aiming down the sights or hitting a combo. Especially if you’re a professional gamer, it’s important to take care of your hands, as they’re your money-makers!
Prevent Blisters On Your Hands From Gaming
Now that we know how blisters form, let’s find some best practices to avoid them!
First, ease up on how hard your thumb is pressed on the joystick. In the N64 days, it was much easier to get a blister (those who played the fishing mini-game in Mario Party know what I’m talking about). Console makers have added soft padding to the thumbstick, which adds support and comfort to your thumbs.
The right amount of pressure on the thumbstick is often found by playing overtime. The biggest sign you’re pressing too hard is if your thumbs hurt after gaming or you have a sensitive skin feeling.
Second, I know this may seem over the top, especially for a casual gamer, but make sure you’re properly stretched out. Muscles can tighten up if kept in the same place for an extended period, so stretching properly is important before you even pick up the controller.
Here is a great video from Dr. Levi Harrison explaining some easy to do wrist stretches:
Wrist Rolls
Put your arm straight out (locked out), make a fist, and go in a clockwise circle ten times to loosen up the muscles.
Once you’ve completed ten clockwise circles, do ten counter-clockwise circles. After these are completed, open up your fist to make a flat hand and circle from there.
See Our Complete List Of Helpful Gaming Articles Here.
Wrist Extensions
Now, we want to open our hands completely. Let the wrist hang, moving the wrist left to right ten times. From there, put the wrist back flat and move it ten times.
Finally, lift your hand and go back and forth, similar to washing a window in a car.
Wrist Pulls
Lock your arm out straight. Bend your wrist down toward the ground. Take your opposite hand and pull down on your wrist, giving a nice stretch to the tendons.
Hold this for a ten count until you start to feel loose. Make sure this is done on both hands.
For more exercises, watch the full-length video above from Dr. Levi Harrison!
How To Avoid Gamer’s Thumb
Gamer’s thumb, also known as de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, is a condition in which the tendons in your thumb become inflamed. According to motusheals.com:
Gamer’s thumb is one nickname given to a condition called de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is a condition in which the tendons that move your thumb become inflamed.
Repetitive strain on your thumb tendons leads to inflammation which leads to pain and limited movement. Gaming is a common cause of repetitive strain on the thumb, so De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is often called “gamer’s thumb.”
Gaming isn’t the only way that you can develop this condition. Think about how much you use your thumbs while using your smartphone. That said, gaming may put a harder strain on your thumbs for a longer duration.
They go on to note that symptoms of Gamer’s thumb may include:
- Thumb pain after playing video games
- Pain and swelling near the base of the thumb
- Wrist pain that may travel up the arm
- Thumb and wrist pain that gets worse with movement
- A catching or popping sensation when moving the thumb.
If this is the first time you’ve heard of a gamer’s thumb, it’s a relatively new injury. The best way to prevent a gamer’s thumb is to rest and stretch your hands. Stressed tendons can ultimately lead to long-term injury. As fun as gaming is, take an hour or so break between long gaming sessions for a hand cool down.
Here is another great video from the American Physical Therapy Association on how to prevent Gamer’s thumb:
Conclusion
Gamer’s thumb or blisters on the thumb can be easily avoided with proper care of your hands. Stretching and moving the muscles/tendons before exerting force on a controller should be part of your daily routine.
If it becomes a major issue, we recommend buying a gamer’s glove, which can help with the friction.
We use video games as a leisure activity to get away from life. Don’t stress your thumbs, and limit your fun!
Related Q & A
Best Way To Not Get Thumb Cramps
As noted above, it’s best to stretch your thumbs and their tendons before gaming. It may seem odd at first, but it will help avoid thumb cramps when gaming for long.
Are There Gloves I Can Wear For Gaming?
Yes! There are gaming gloves available that help players who play too aggressively avoid cuts and blisters on their thumbs.
We found a gaming glove here on Amazon to help protect your thumbs!