Avoid Injuries to the Wrist and Hand from Playing Billiards
Believe it not, playing billiards and pool can cause injuries to the wrist and hand area. The injuries are known as Repetitive Motion Injuries (RMI), caused when the tendon becomes inflamed. Other names for this condition are, “Tendonitis” or “Bursitis”, when a bursa sac (a small pouch that lubricates the space between a tendon and bone) becomes inflamed. Full-blown tendonitis may become “tenosynovitis”, whereby the inflammation affects the tendon and the tendon sheath. Many athletes suffer from some form of tendonitis or tensynovitis from repeated stress or overuse by repeated straining of one area.
A form of tendonitis afflicts PC users who sit at a computer for long hours and use a mouse without a cushion or a form of elevation for the wrists. Working a mouse and typing at a keyboard from a fixed wrist position puts a strain on the wrist muscles, causing a condition known as, “carpel tunnel syndrome”.
Pool shooters can avoid strain on their wrist and hands by following these tips:
- Hold the cue stick with a firm but relaxed grip. Gripping the cue stick tightly creates tension through the wrist and forearm.
- Fasten an impact-dampening tool on the butt end of the cue. This softens the feel of the hit on the cue ball, improving the play and providing a health benefit. This is called a “limbsaver” or a “cue stabilizer”.
Check with a professional at your favorite Marin billiards, Napa billiards or Sonoma pool tables dealer for a limsaver or cue stabilizer and get a demo.