Gaming Posture: How You Can Rest Your Arms On The Desk

[@AbiRizky]

Ah exactly the video I've been waiting for!

[@OlivierGirard]

Patience always pays off (I should apply this to myself too 😂)…

[@redzeppelin6659]

Your channel is just a gold mine

[@kaytaylor7503]

Excellent videos and advice. I recently developed costochondritis from years of bad posture at my computer designiing graphics. Can you recommend one of your videos to avoid this debilitating condition? Thank you sir.

[@salmaben4914]

This is so helpful! Do you have advice to gamers using a controller instead of a keyboard?

[@_Baleful]

Thanks Olivier, needed this video!

[@michaelmonstar4276]

I think I need to force-play this video every time I sit at my desk... Like when I turn on the computer.

[@OlivierGirard]

If you find how to technically do this, let me know 😂😂!!

[@GianMarcoTatangeli-on2ho]

Hi Oliver! Thank you for this video. I try everyday to be comfortable in my workstation but I have always pain in cervical, low and middle bak. I’m 181cm and my surface is 72.5cm. What distance do you suggest from chair and top desk to be ergonomic? I try to set but when I’m high on chair is the only way to have less pain at arms (but I broke my neck in every position with high and distance of monitor!) Thank you in advice for your kind reply my friend

[@chawkisalhi8103]

Very good video Olivier. Merci

[@jmagnifico7550]

oh wow good vid olivier

[@7obeats994]

Fantastic video! Thank you very much for this. I have a question: besides gaming, I also browse, code, etc. on my PC. Should I then move my forearms back from the table every time I'm not gaming or is it ok if I use the gaming posture for all of these tasks?

[@Pilotmoss49]

Glad you made a gaming posture guide this really helps a lot! Do you think a neck tuck with this posture could be beneficial for the neck pain while gaming?

[@OlivierGirard]

Thank you!! I'm not a fan of a neck tuck though... 2 reasons: - one is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2Slh5SHYryNnqc: you should keep your head in place, but not force it back - muscles hate static contraction (it impairs blood circulation and thereby creates fatigue). Hence, muscles should not have to compensate for a lack of balance. Rather, balance should be our goal. Makes sense?

[@Pilotmoss49]

Exactly what I was looking for, thank you! @@OlivierGirard

[@jackboxer7537]

@oliviergirard With forearms on the desk as you recommend for gamers in this video, is there no additional risk of forearm/wrist nerve tunnel compression compared to your recommendation for office workers of floating their forearms?

[@OlivierGirard]

I love being on YT, because of such precise questions!! The answer is: there's a very small additional risk, that can be managed. The reason is that carpal tunnel pressure and forearm strain arise from: - direct pressure on the desk, which should not exist if you stick to my recommendations that the desk just bears the weight of the forearms, - ulnar / radial deviation of the wrist, which should not happen if you stick to my recommendations, - wrist extension, which can exist if you have a thick keyboard (e.g. mechanical) or a horizontal mouse. Switching to a very thin keyboard and a vertical mouse could resolve this. Great point, thanks for making it!!!

[@jackboxer7537]

​@@OlivierGirard Thank you for your detailed reply! I have a few follow-up observations and questions that I'd like to get your opinion on, if you have the time: SUBJECT 1: If, by following your recommendations, the additional risk from resting just the weight of the forearms on the desk is minimal/negligible, should this perhaps be the default computer work posture recommendation for office workers as well? As you know, it is difficult for most people to float their wrists and forearms all the time while typing/mousing, so we recommend occasional use of armrests and/or palm support cushions (not wrist rests, I know!); but this occasional use of multiple forms of support is a bit more complicated than simply resting the forearms on the desk. I've found that many people who receive this advice end up using armrests full-time, and when those people have chairs whose armrests interfere with the desk, it makes them reach forward. Similarly, many people misuse palm support cushions by putting pressure on their wrists instead of their palms. Therefore, might your recommended posture/setup for gamers be simpler and therefore more effective to teach to office workers? SUBJECT 2: Gamers love thick mechanical keyboards, but it is not inconceivable that they could switch to thin keyboards instead. However, a vertical mouse is simply not precise enough for serious gaming. I believe only an extremely small percent of gamers would consider using a vertical mouse. Is there perhaps a thin regular mouse that can help reduce wrist extension while otherwise following your recommendations? Or another solution that allows the use of regular mice? SUBJECT 3: Fine ulnar/radial deviation of the wrist is unfortunately a key movement in games that requires the highest level of precision, such as first-person shooter games. In most other games, elbow movement alone may suffice save for the highest levels of competition. Is there anything FPS players and professional gamers can do to reduce risk while continuing to strain their mousing wrists?

[@VibeZilly]

I purchased a desk chair, put lower bc I’m short and from gaming now I’m in pain bc what you explained about my elbow high. I guess I need that chair and a box for under my feet. I have tennis elbow ..how long will this take to heal?

[@fikey911]

I am trying this with the logitech embody, but it doesn't support sitting upright. Could you tell me whether it is 'possible' (to keep good posture)? And how would I go about it?

[@mistercreep2002]

I have a desk on which you can pull to open or push to close the part where the keyboard and mouse are I have no support for the forearm and when I move the mouse the desk move too 💀 That desk is at my mom house I’ve always had neck pain to the point I had to take medication I’ve been away for 2 years with a good desk (not a single second with any pain) I just returned yesterday and OH what a surprise the pain is back I have also that kind of desk at work and I feel like it’s the worst kind of desk… why do companies feel like it’s a good idea

[@yuzhuocao5663]

Can you do a video about how to correct the neck hump?

[@OlivierGirard]

To achieve this, the best you can do is to fix forward head posture. The free protocol is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5KYqJ6Co8loaqs, and you can also consider joining the Posture Academy: oliviergirard.ch/en/posture-academy-online-program/

[@yuzhuocao5663]

@@OlivierGirard omg, that video is too long. I can't tell which part is actually for stretching

[@slaps1]

I just noticed that I tend to push my palms/wrists into the wrist-rest and the mousepad

[@OlivierGirard]

this looks like an upper body stabilization effort... do you feel more mid back strain if you try to release this wrist effort?

[@Usersappl]

Greetings sir, i hope you are doing fine and healthy. I wanted to thank you for making these videos as i could feel them improving my life. Alhamdulillah. I wanted to perhaps request, if its not too much to ask, maybe you could make a video on mewing or how tongue posture, suction etc keep the neck and other muscles in place? Any advice from you would be appreciated as i heard that everythings begins from the tongue posture. Thanks in advance

[@OlivierGirard]

Hello my friend! To be very honest with you, I'm not a specialist of tongue vs posture. I know it has an impact (I can feel it for my own) but that's not something I master. Sorry for this!!

[@Usersappl]

@@OlivierGirard thanks for your response sir. If you dont mind me asking, can you give any advice/videos that can help with relaxed breath and clear speech when breathing. I tend to sit for long periods and when i get up i get shortness of breath.

[@Usersappl]

@@OlivierGirard and in general how not to run out of breath when talking if u could please

[@OlivierGirard]

@@Usersappl the first thing I would do is train proper breathing and take a few deep thoracic breathes before getting up: How To Breathe Properly | Posture Therapist Explains Why Belly breathing Is NOT The Best Technique kzbin.info/www/bejne/b57chKipbr6taMk

[@Usersappl]

@@OlivierGirard thaank you so much sir! I have followed the instruction of this video before and felt a difference, even though i also feel like i do a bit of throat breathing too unconsciously

[@gianlucavitali4027]

After years of bad posture i'm trying to fix bad habits, got a good ergonomic chair, started to fix monitor/everything distance. But a pain the estern part of my left arm is always present, i know is not carpal tunnel since it does not go to the first three fingers but to the last 2, any tips?

[@OlivierGirard]

I wouldn't be very surprised if you'd be leaning on your left elbow: do you recognize this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZ7HpnpqgMxkjNU

[@courage_living]

What is your view on articles/ research that say that the optimal recline angle for a chair is 135 degree? Do u think it's bad for the neck?

[@OlivierGirard]

Correct. It is only true when 1) you have a headrest 2) your hands don't do anything (as your arms are hanging behind you) 3) your line of sight is upwards. You can check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioDHkJhrnr9sqq8

[@hoothoot2965]

This video tries to talk about very important topic that is often skipped over but we are not at all closer to a solution. This video feels like you just began to give a solution at the end after explaining what does bad posture entail. Although I deeply appreciate the explanation of the why not in the rest of the video, the solution you describe cannot be the only one available (hopefully). (and additionally i should note that does not work for many people that spend so many hours at a desk). For example in my case, if i rest my arms as suggested my circulation is cut to the rest of my arms (and yes i have checked my position ( the angle and the height of the table with respect to the shoulders) with an ergonomics expert) , so this is not a solution for me as it is not for many other people. Alternatively, some people suggest using a table top that goes around your mid so you can rest your arms at the table at the proper height and angle, however, most of the "arm support" part of the table is too far away for your spine inducing which translate in improper positioning of the elbows and arms with respect to it. Here the only solution experts offered was to design the table with taking in consideration the persons specifics measurements. This is a bit impractical. Therefore my question is, could you complement a little bit more of your video and suggest other better or alternative solutions?

[@OlivierGirard]

Honestly, it's very difficult for me to judge based on your feedback. I have 3 suggestions for you: - either my whatsapp hotline or zoom consultation, both from my webshop: oliviergirard.ch/en/shop/ - or you send me some pictures of you at your workplace and I publish a public review such as these ones: kzbin.info/aero/PLrkU7wsPQIPqFWP3O6TWqD_87UmUcujsn Let me know!

[@aru9o5]

Do you still recommend not resting forearms on desk?

[@OlivierGirard]

I find it difficult to rest them whilst making sure that you won't slump on them... so indeed, I don't rest them. However, you can also test a keyboard wrist rest, which is some kind of intermediary solution, as shown in my latest video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJybaJxviK6KmqM

[@GregRippetoe]

What about gamers who use a gamepad instead of keyboard?

[@jakebrowning2373]

Choosing a chair to buy is the hardest decision I've ever had to make

[@OlivierGirard]

this is almost the title of this other video of mine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fne0Yn-QotWZi68. Have you watched it already?

[@IrrationalDelusion]

Welcome to real life.