An obsessive gamer’s guide to chronic pain peripherals

Two years ago, I seriously hurt my back. I’ve always been prone to injury; I inherited hyperflexible joints from my mom. Now I’ve inherited the back pain, too. Recovery has been a nonlinear process that has involved radically altering the way I live my life, with the help of a physical therapist I’m fortunate to have found. I now live by a common chronic pain axiom called “spoon theory.” Every day, I have a number of “spoons” at my disposal — a measurement of my energy, where each spoon signifies the ability to do one task. Sometimes I wake up with few spoons to spare. Sometimes I overspend my spoons and must live for weeks in recovery, with no spoons at all.

Have you ever thought to yourself, I want to get better at games, but I don’t want to destroy my life? We’re here to help with a special week dedicated to all things video games and health.

Playing video games used to replenish every spoon in my drawer — it was a restorative, passive hobby like reading or doing a puzzle. But all of these activities have something in common: They involve sitting, crouching, and craning my body for hours at a time. After my back injury, I realized I had to rebuild my idea of rest, and that I needed to factor ergonomics into nearly every aspect of playing games, especially because I have a tendency to get sucked in. Vanquishing an Elden Ring boss or completing a Celeste section is an incredible emotional high, but it makes my body feel like a putrid sack of flesh. Nowadays, I think seriously about the tools I use, and the positions I sit in (or pretzel my body into) when I become obsessed with a game.

I’ve assembled some of my favorite “hacks” for gaming with chronic pain. Because chronic pain is an individual experience, your mileage may vary. But these tools and tricks have helped me enjoy playing games in the most pain-free way possible since my injuries. I hope they help you, too.

If product recommendations are your objective, feel free to move on to the next section! But I wanted to start off here, because this bit of advice does not require spending any money.

You can buy every ergonomic product in the world, but there is unfortunately nothing ergonomic about staying in one position for hours on end — whether you’re sitting or standing — if you do not have to. The problem is that many of us are in environments and jobs where we don’t have the option to change our position often. So, my best advice for someone who is gaming intensely and has the ability to change their position: Every 30-60 minutes, get up and take a few paces in your room, or stretch your arms and legs. This is a disruptive and unglamorous bit of advice, but it has made the biggest difference for my back pain. I like to set a timer to help me remember to move.

Find the right video game controller

Controllers have different perks, like haptic feedback, button layout, or aesthetic. But because their sizes and shapes all vary somewhat, there’s also a chance that one of these controllers will feel more comfortable in your hands than another.

For me, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and the DualSense PS5 controller feel best. The Joy Cons feel terrible, and the Xbox Series X controller (even though I have a very cute one with a Pride design on it) makes my hands cramp to high heavens. As a result, I have made sure the most comfortable controllers are synced with my gaming setups. Those are the only ones I use.

You might be surprised how versatile your favorite wireless controller can be. In the era of corded controllers, you were stuck with whichever one worked with your console. These days you can get an Xbox controller to work with a PS5 — it takes some extra work, but it is possible.

There are also accessible controllers designed for a range of capabilities. The Xbox Adaptive Controller is great for fully customizing your controller setup according to what is most comfortable, or what matches your movement abilities.

Protect your neck when using handhelds

I love my Nintendo Switch, but I hate what it has done to my neck. As a kid, I could hunch over my Game Boy Advance SP for ages. These days, I know I will pay it back in pain throughout the coming week, if not longer. I speak from experience; using my Switch in handheld mode, I spent hours trying to beat the Watcher Knights in Hollow Knight, only to find I couldn’t turn my head to the left for the week after. Beating the Watcher Knights felt good. Actually taking care of myself would have felt even better.

I’ve been kinder to my body since then, and that’s involved a few fixes. At this point, I almost always mount my Switch on something while I play, and I use a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller — even when I’m not using the Switch with a television or monitor. I use a tablet arm mount, play stand, or pile of books to stick the screen onto or against. If you travel frequently, I would recommend an airplane tray table Switch clip. I use it to put the screen at eye level in the same way.

Even if the handheld console doesn’t have detachable controllers — like a Switch Lite or Steam Deck — I still use a tablet arm mount and a separate controller whenever possible.

Photo: Nicole Clark/Polygon

If I don’t have a separate controller available, I’ll do my best to make sure I’m changing how I’m holding the handheld and the angle of my neck every 30 minutes or so. If I’m sitting at a kitchen table, coffee table, or desk, I’ll place my elbows on the surface, and instead of hunching my neck and scrunching my shoulders, I’ll move the console up to eye level. If I’m on a sofa or armchair, I will bring out my favorite wooden lap desk that I also use for hobbies like painting and do the same. On days when my wrists are tired, I have used a wrist brace, too.

I have also tried a pair of prism glasses — ones that let you look forward but see at a 90 degree angle downward — similar to what surgeons and cross stitchers use. They have a learning curve, but I’ve found them really useful for long Stardew Valley play sessions, where I’m less focused on dexterity than I am on investing time into grinding.

Fix your desk setup

If you are a PC gamer, there is a whole host of modifications you can make so that your setup is more ergonomic. (Here’s a more complete guide to ergonomic PC gaming setups.)

One of the less expensive fixes is to adjust your monitor up to eye level, or put your laptop on a stand or a stack of books. Your laptop or computer screen should be about an arm’s length from your face, and the top of it should be just a few inches above your eyes.

If you’re using a chair with adjustable height, another important adjustment is to make sure your chair is at the height where your elbows are at a 90 degree angle when you are typing. If your feet are dangling off the floor, you can use a stack of books, or something similarly affordable, to support your legs so that your knees are also at a 90 degree angle.

To prevent eye strain and headaches, make sure your screen’s brightness isn’t jolting in comparison to the light in the room around you.

These are the pieces that I would classify as worth finding in a version that feels suited to your body, or some type of “premium” version of them. While much of this is expensive to buy new, certain items can be found in great quality used or from office liquidation stores.

A good chair with adjustable settings

Sticker price-wise, this is the most expensive item on the list. It’s complicated by competing definitions of what the “best” ergonomic chair is. Though there are lots of “best” lists out there, everyone’s body is different, and what feels comfortable will vary by person. Ideally, you could try to find a store that lets you test different chairs. Sometimes furniture stores will have models on the floor that you can test without committing to buying anything.

Regardless of whether you can try out the chair ahead of purchase, you should consider three main criteria: how adjustable it is, its dimensions, and the return policy (if you’re buying it new). In the context of an office chair, “ergonomic” is a fancy way of saying adjustable — the chair should have settings that allow it to conform to your body, and to accommodate changes you’ll make to your sitting posture through the day. Look for a chair with adjustable height, lean tension (which will allow you to rock back, adjust how easy it is to do so, and lock the position at different points), and lumbar support (high-end chairs will let you adjust lumbar tension). Adjustable armrests are also great.

Photo: Nicole Clark/Polygon

Unfortunately, most standard “gamer chairs” don’t really do this, with the exception of specific ergonomically designed models, like the Embody Gaming Chair. That said, if you have a beloved gaming chair that already works for you, I will not fight you!

Lastly, make sure the size is right. The Aeron, for example, comes in more than one size and height. Though it is one of the most expensive chairs, it is also one of the most popular, and it’s often available through office liquidation stores, outlets, or Craigslist.

A mouse that won’t hurt you

It took me an embarrassingly long amount of time to get myself a better mouse, because I didn’t think there was anything “wrong” with my old one. It’s true that the previous one worked. But when I finally upgraded to an ergonomically designed one, a layer of wrist pain peeled away. You love to see it.

If your wrists hurt, you might also look into a wrist rest or an ergonomic keyboard — for example, a split board, or a keyboard angled in a more natural position for your wrists.

Some of my favorite ergonomic fixes have felt silly in hindsight — and yet they’ve solved some of my worst pain problems. My favorite ridiculous “chronic pain tool” has been a simple pair of fluffy socks. I realized that my back pain spiked when I sat cross-legged. The best solution was to keep my feet warm so I wouldn’t tuck them under my legs subconsciously.

I’m not actually recommending fluffy socks as a “gaming peripheral.” My point here is to be observant and conscientious about what is causing you pain, if and when you can, and to embrace accessible solutions or modifications when those options arise. It can be hard to be conscious of your body when you’re focused on gaming (often I play games specifically to distract myself from how crappy my body feels). When I’m engrossed in a game, I hardly notice the weird and uncomfortable positions I put myself in. So I designed my gaming setups with that in mind, making it easier to take care of my body.

Hopefully, now you have tools to do it too.