Flight simmers beware "Students elbow"

[Fish44]

I just got a dose ‘Olecranon bursitis’ on my stick hand, after a few hours in the sim. Dident really notice it during flying, but woke up with it. Unfortunately i have my stick and throttle on the desk, and did not have any protection for the elbow directly against the desk. I’m guessing, resting it on a wrist pad, or something similar would prevented it.

Hope this helps other simmers with hotas on the desk.

[Guest]

Not considered small “side tables” beside your chair to put the HOTAS on? More ergonomic and would eliminate the chances of having “student’s elbow” again. Even without it, having the HOTAS on the desk would put strain on the shoulder and upper-arm muscles just keeping your arm “up high” to hold the HOTAS.

[Redshift20]

Lifting weights too will also help reduce strain on the shoulder and upper arm muscles from keeping your arm up high

[eliot323]

Hope you get better soon.

[Vyper37]

Or diversify your web surfing activity :wfish:

[Goldsmack]

LMAO when Quagmire leans about internet porn

[Fish44]

yes indeed guys, i’m gonna have to change something!!

[mrwell]

Wrist and arm support…
Even with 1.0G they are needed

[Fish44]

I’m totally jealous. No way would that one ‘fly’ here, unfortunately.

I’m guessing lots of people have their kit on the desk, so maybe in need a new thread to investigate what other’s are doing.

[Stevie]

This is just one reason I’ve stopped desk flying…though I’ve been back at it for a couple weeks and now my wrist is in pretty poor shape…and I’m considering halting my flying once more. No more flying until I get my pit done, and have the same as mrwell. Maybe my wrist will be repaired by then…or I’ll have had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome…

[-Pv-]

Regardless of setup, hours of repetitive motion and firm grip on the flight stick would still cause stress and pain. Knowing your limit with planned periods of relaxation to free the stress and careful wrist flexing
to erase the muscle memory helps me. It also helps that F4 actually has a useful AP so I can relax and flex my ligaments during a flight. 100% manual games like Elite Dangerous I can only tolerate 1-2 hours a week.
The Saitek X65 with its sensitivity profiles have allowed me to keep gaming. Otherwise I would have had to stop many years ago. My flight stick is sitting on top of my server case at the same level about eight inches in front of my chair armrest.
-Pv-

[Stevie]

+1.

[dssers101]

This post is deleted!

[Fish44]

@Stevie:

……or I’ll have had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome…

Had carpal tunnel some years ago from mouse and joystick. I work with computers, and had to learn to use the mouse with the opposite hand. Very painful. I’m fortunate that i’m left handed, so mouse is throttle hand, still the short rotary radius of both the TQS and warthog, puts a lot of stress on the wrist. The warthog particularly bad in DCS A10 because you are nearly full throttle most of the time, and this is very awkward.
Hope you sort it out Stevie.

[Stevie]

@Fish44:

Had carpal tunnel some years ago from mouse and joystick. I work with computers, and had to learn to use the mouse with the opposite hand. Very painful. I’m fortunate that i’m left handed, so mouse is throttle hand, still the short rotary radius of both the TQS and warthog, puts a lot of stress on the wrist. The warthog particularly bad in DCS A10 because you are nearly full throttle most of the time, and this is very awkward.
Hope you sort it out Stevie.

Thanks, Fish44. I’ve used a trackball for years, and I’ve also spent 40+ years playing guitar (and riding motorcycles, now that I think…both dirt and street) so my right wrist has taken quite some over-use. Only now getting to the point of trying to take some care before things really get…er…out of hand. Improper ergonomics during desk flying can really do some damage…and I think it’s worse using the stick on the side rather then in the center, so setup is key if you’re a hardcore F-16 simmer.

[Fish44]

@Stevie:

Thanks, Fish44. I’ve used a trackball for years, and I’ve also spent 40+ years playing guitar (and riding motorcycles, now that I think…both dirt and street) so my right wrist has taken quite some over-use. Only now getting to the point of trying to take some care before things really get…er…out of hand. Improper ergonomics during desk flying can really do some damage…and I think it’s worse using the stick on the side rather then in the center, so setup is key if you’re a hardcore F-16 simmer.

Ha Steve, you have put those tendons to good use and had some fun with them, so i’m sure no regrets there! Me, my poison was/is DIY, woodwork. Also taken its toll.

Hope this thread alerts some of the younger ‘hard core’ simmers about the dangers of RSI , and a discussion on how it can be avoided or minimised.

I invested in a herman miller aeron chair recently. Only wish i had done it years ago.

[RhoBee]

@Fish44:

I just got a dose ‘Olecranon bursitis’ on my stick hand, after a few hours in the sim. Dident really notice it during flying, but woke up with it. Unfortunately i have my stick and throttle on the desk, and did not have any protection for the elbow directly against the desk. I’m guessing, resting it on a wrist pad, or something similar would prevented it.

Have you considered MonsterTech table mounts? I have them, and I place the joystick between my knees so I can rest my elbow on my thigh.

[Vyper37]

@RhoBee:

Have you considered MonsterTech table mounts? I have them, and I place the joystick between my knees so I can rest my elbow on my thigh.

94$ each ? lol

[Stevie]

@RhoBee:

Have you considered MonsterTech table mounts? I have them, and I place the joystick between my knees so I can rest my elbow on my thigh.

Well, I just got a whole bunch of ideas…!

[RhoBee]

Add in shipping and handling…$240 to the States. FWIW they’re examples of superb German craftsmanship.