Wrist pain with wacom anyone?

[Jason Ross]

I've been reading about other artist getting tendonitis in the wrist from using the wacom. Algen and Jana to name a few...totally sucks that the very tool that is helping them create art is slowly hurting them. This (http://www.painreliever.com/IMAK_IMAKSmtGlv.html) is something that I started using a while ago and still use it off and on...(off when my wife steals it). Maybe this can help out. It lifts your wrist up about 1/2 inch and helps keep the wrist and hand aligned better. When my wrist is flat on the tablet (no glove) my hand flexes just a little bit laterally as I stroke the pen. My hand pivots around the side of the pinky knuckle and forces my wrist to pop upwards as I make strokes. The glove lifts that pivot area and creates a new pivot area at the outside base of my palm so my whole hand moves and my wrist doesn't have to move as much. The material is soft so your hands slides on the surface of the tablet as well. The picture doesn't really show it but there are some really soft beads under the palm and wrist area that soften the contact of your desk/tablet and your hand. I think this helps me and it's pretty inexpensive too.
http://www.officeorganix.com/images/SmartGlove2.JPG

[Kaileighblue]

That looks nice. I've needed ones recently after joining I want on a marathon photoshop spree. I have a doctor's order brace but it's for my left wrist. :frustrated:

[Arshes Nei]

I don't think the tablet is hurting him so much as bad positioning of the hand/wrist. I moved to a larger tablet because I had some problems. It was more due to a laptop not being ergonomic and the fact hat I was mostly using my wrist and not my arm with the tablet.

So I got a wrist brace, waited it out and bought a bigger tablet. Pain is finally gone and I've learned to take breaks and be more careful.

[catartxis]

i have wrist pain and issues. i quit using my wacom cause the pain is terrible.
My problem i think is cause the table is small 6x8 graphire and when i draw on the pc with this, the movement relies too much on the wrist and not on the elbow... i was just searching today for things to solve this, even considering buying a larger table that allows me to move my whole arm rather than my wrist. it sucks...
@jason, what you say may be a better solution, maybe quicker and cheaper than buying another tablet.
Also i wish there were better pencils for the wacom... i just bought a japanese mechanical pencil with gel on the grip and it ease the pain so much... i wish it exist something like this on the wacom... i know its a bad habit to press too much the pencil... but for maniacs like me, no can do i guess...
i have a wrist holder but doesnt help me much... but thanks jason! and interesting advice...

[HunterKiller_]

Gripping the stylus too tightly for long periods will also lead to wrist pain.
Dunno about anybody else, but I unintentionally do this all the time.

[jcpahl]

I've had a lot of issues with this. There are some simple stretches that you can do that really help, though, both to stave off injury and to help existing injuries to heal.

Some good ones that have helped me enormously:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUyMNyrOHJQ

[aissatan]

I was wondering about that actually... I think I just tense up my hand too much, though (like Hunter said). I wonder if it would help with that?

[evilagram]

No problems with wrist paint myself, but sometimes my hand cramps up from holding the stylus too long.

[B u r l]

I've got more-less constant aggravation in my wrists from horrible posture over the years. It can get quite painful when I'm in the gym lifting weights, but some support straps I got help that quite a bit. I could really use something like this, though. I'll have to give them exercises a go, too!

[darkwolf29a]

http://www.dynaflex-intl.com/

I have one of these.A deceptively simple device that helps to exercise those tendons. Of course, those exercises that jcpahl suggests are greaet as well.

I have, actually, stopped using my trackball all together, because I ahve been using the tablet. I only have a couple of problems in Sketchup where I cannot get the teblet to do what I want and I reach for the ball, temporarily.

[Spirit]

I have one of these as well, but I have never used it apart from when I sprained my wrist once trying to move something heavier than I could lift. I don't use a wacom, but I agree that holding the pen or anything too tightly for too long can cause wrist pain. I unintentionally hold my pencil too tightly all of the time, and it's a habit I just can't seem to stop! I really need to though, as sometimes I hold them so tightly I end up snapping the pencil I'm using... :nohope:

[catartxis]

im am intrigued by these "gyro balls" do you guys think that works???
ive solve my problem with the grip and that is by using a uni ball mechanical pencil that has a gel grip that you can squeez as much as you want, and also it feels quite soft. the downside its only 0.5 mm.
the wacom i cant use it to draw cause, it cause me too much pain. i have some ideas to solution this... but iam intrigued by the solutions that Jason Ross and darkwolf and spirt posted.

[vineris]

Yeah, I've been meaning to get one of those gloves. I've managed to lessen my pain a lot by doing more traditional painting lately -- you just don't mash physical brushes down the same way you do a stylus.

[Portus]

Nope, I use an A4 tablet for doing the desk work and it's well positioned. I also adjust the pressure scale so that I don't have to press the pen hard to reach 100%. Same with my pencils, I always use soft leads, less strain<>less pain. Lastly I use a foam pencil grip on the wacom pen so that the grip is larger, smaller barrels require more strain on the wrist. This is what I do to try to prevent wrist pain, that scares me quite seriously.

[BlackGuy]

I've got the small bamboo fun, and it's definitely starting to cause aches in my wrist.

*edit* didn't realize someone posted the vid already. sorry bout that.

[PieterV]

Does anyone else think we should have a "drawing ergonomics" sticky?

[kittens]

Gah! I was using my tablet for a few hours to work on something last night and this morning my wrist is killing me! I might have to invest in this one! Thanks for the info! = )

[Line]

To avoid pain when using my tablet I wear this http://www.productwiki.com/upload/images/power_glove-400-400.jpg... I love it...It's so bad...Real bad!!!

Hehe, seriously though, I do get pains too. I get pain in the knuckles of my pinky finger, along the side of the palm and just a little pain in the wrist. So, it's only on the side that rests/presses on the tablet. But I don't think it's because of the pressure I use to hold the stylus, it's more due to the fact that, when I use it to draw, I unintentionally curl my wrist inward. It's weird.

[SMalier]

I'm getting a bad pain in my wrist from using the mouse all day!

At home I tried using an old sock with a hole cut in it to cover my wrist, but that never really provided the support that I needed.

At work however, I have a decent enough chair (it has armrests) so my arm is up high and helps keep my wrist elevated.

I guess what you've posted could be a solution to the problem. I always wondered about those gel pads that people by for their mousepads. :)

[darkwolf29a]

I've got the small bamboo fun, and it's definitely starting to cause aches in my wrist.

*edit* didn't realize someone posted the vid already. sorry bout that.

That's what I have, and I have no trouble at all.

I think it's because I started using that ball a few months ago, when my wrist pain started, because of work. Now, I'm hypersensitive about that kind of thing and try to stretch and keep things limber.

[catartxis]

yeah, i think a sticky thread about excersices and tips and advices about pain wrist and other kinds of pain, could be very helpful to all guys here.
something of easy access and that is available to all.
i know that the most commons kinds of pain comes from miskates or bad postures,
so its important to know how to improve your workflow and avoid inncesary pain, especially in the wrist area and in the back or waist area.
i would vote for a sticky about this issue... :) dont know if in this thread but perhaps in another one.
the best advices on how to sit, a good desk, or if you work stand up, how to hold and grip a pencil, wacom, etc.

[Senira]

For the people who are experiencing pain, do you keep your tablet on your desk or on your lap?

I got my first tablet seven or eight years ago, and I've always kept it in my lap without any wrist pain. The only time I ever experience any wrist pain with my tablet is when I put it on the desk for the rare occasions when I have to use my mouse.

The downside to the lap method is that my cats have a tendency to think the tablet is a large, warm bed that I set up just for them.

[Galdor]

ty a lot for the video link have to try that out I have been having problems with my hands for a while.

and I agree about the sticky.

[Taneli]

I'm not using a tablet, only pencil and pen, but recently I've been getting some minor pain in my right hand and arm. Thanks for the tips, I've ordered a Powerball and started doing those stretches. Hopefully they'll help, I'd hate to go on a longer break.