Any tips for managing hand pain?

[Krowe]

I've been playing SFV for less than hundred hours, I use keyboard; arrow keys to move/jump and qweasd for my attack buttons. About a week ago I started experiencing a lot of pain in my right fingers and knuckle while playing. It subsided after about a day, but is this normal? I know excessive movement can damage your fingers, but is there any way to avoid hand pain? I want to continue playing, but I also think my health should come first. Is hand pain something I'l need to worry about, and are there any ways I can play without risking injury to my hands?

[76561199159958067]

Definitely something about your posture or the way you exert your hands is causing this. Consider using something else than a keyboard too.

[what's that smell?]

If you can afford it, go and see a physio, they will sort you out and give you long term plans to manage your health

[dose]

id recommend getting a arcade stick or a hitbox they help a lot

[Lvl 69 C*m Goblin]

I'd recommend using wasd for movement and 789456 on the numpad so your hands are further apart.

[Jack Frost]

Originally posted by 「dose」:

id recommend getting a arcade stick or a hitbox they help a lot

Yes. I recommend this as well.

[Wut]

The only fighting game that makes my thumbs sore, its not controller friendly at all. I think the biggest problem is the DP motions during a combo

[DoctorDarling]

get a hitbox that you can sit back with on your lap... being hunched over a keyboard is bad enough (literally why I play console games mostly)... add in the awkwardness of hand position for playing on keyboard... not much you can do outside of taking breaks and learning some hand stretches

[Gill]

To parrot everyone else here I recommend an arcade stick or hitbox.

If you REALLY don't want to get a big ol stick consider a Hori Octa or something. But do yourself a favour and ditch the keyboard. For everything if you can. Sure it might make you more competitive in shooters but as someone in my 30s now who spent most of that gaming on a keyboard, let me tell you - they're going to ruin your wrist and hands.

Keyboards are really not meant for gaming on and I recommend you move away from one asap or suffer numbness and tingling in your digits once you get to your 30-40s D:

[Ride the Lightning]

You dont need to spend a lot on hit box or stick. Unless you really want to play with that type of controller. A good pad will put your hands in a more nuetral position. Some poeple compkain about thumb pain but they must not have much finess or weak ass hands lol. You can get an Hori FC for like 39 on amazon. Highly recommended.

[Doc Holiday]

Mechanical Keyboards are very efficient once you get good at them, but yeah, your hands will suffer. I recommend you take a break of at least 5 minutes every hour or less.

And I will also repeat what other people are saying - get an Arcade Stick. I own the Hori RAP V and it's super comfy. Can play hours on end without hands feeling tired. I suck at it compared to pad though, I've been a pad player all my life and the muscle memory is too strong...