Older Gamer Dilemma: Arthritis

The average medium age for a gamer has steadily increased over the years. A lot of people question it. Are gamers really getting older? As an active near-40 year old gamer and game reviewer, I can answer that question simply by saying yes! Gamers are getting older. Each passing year more gamers join the mix. But for some, like me that have experienced since the mid-80s the gaming revolution which included arcades, PC gaming, Atari and the NES, we have steadily gotten older but still play games. The typing speed I once possessed was ungodly in comparison to the normal person. In the computer lab, when others were struggling with 30 WPM, I was knocking things out of the park at 100 WPM because of my extensive experience with online muds which required quick-fast response in pvp settings by using word commands. After nearly forty years of consistent button smashing, finger tapping and fast rhythmic typing it comes as little wonder that my generation may be developing early symptoms of arthritis and surely the older gamers before me understand this as well. It may have a little to due with the work you do or even your lifestyle but gaming does come with a caveat of extensive use of hand-eye coordination. Arthritis in older gamers can definitely put a downer on your fun-time and these are some techniques I've found that work out well to still game-on.

EAT FISH

Certain fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy polyunsaturated fat. Omega-3s have a number of health benefits—and may reduce inflammation in the body. What this means, is that the joints that are aching you won't swell up as much and rub against one another, thereby giving you less pain to deal with. If you don't like eating fish, you can take the Omega-3 tablets or fish oil once a day to help mitigate arthritic pain.

EXERCISE

While dealing with normal wear and tear on the body and controlling your weight, exercise is a pivotal part of a regiment to combat old age. This goes for gamers as well. If your body is more fit, the better off you will feel and the less other aches and pains you will experience during a game session. Stretching goes a long way here. But in the question of finger aches, stretching and rotating the joints around your arm and fingers can relieve a lot of the arthritic pressure you feel and make your gaming session much more enjoyable.

USE A HEAT PAD

Warming up the joints before a gaming session can also ease inflammation. While a heat pad works best, other techniques can work like the age-old rubbing your hands together like you used to do on a cold winter's morning, letting them soak in hot water or using something like a hot hands will work as well.

PROPER EQUIPMENT

While, I've never been a fan of going over-the-top for products as they just feel gaudy to me, they do the trick and if you use an arm brace or padded buttons, cushioned mouse pad and the proper techniques when playing games on the PC(including proper position of your fingers), the use of any of these techniques will not only help but are also great preventative measures to battling arthritis.

The main thing is. Have fun. You can manage a lot of mileage in old age in today's society. Through proper techniques and staying healthy, being an old gamer should just really mean that you can school someone on proper nostalgic gaming and not that you have lost a step to the younger crowd. Twitch reaction games can still be on your bucket list of titles to play through and play them well. Just don't let that arthritic pain get in the way of pulling a Clint Eastwood and showing the younger generation that just because your old doesn't mean you can't kick ass.