10 Ergonomic Pain-Busting Gifts For Healthier Gamers

Keep their focus on the screen rather than any distracting pain with an ergonomic gift for gamers that will keep them healthy.

If you're a gamer yourself or have one in the family then you'll know just how absorbing and enjoyable playing video games can be.

As hours can pass in the blink of an eye as you run missions in Call of Duty, score the winner in the Champions League final on FIFA, or fight off zombies in Fortnite.

Because these games open up your imagination and transport you into a different world that engages you completely.

Which is a great form of escapism that keeps you entertained and allows you to switch off and unwind from the stresses of daily life.

And the good news is studies have found that playing video games can be great for your mental skills too.

As they can improve your memory, concentration and problem solving skills, while also being good for hand-eye co-ordination, speed of thought and relieving stress.

However, the flip side of this is that too much gaming, or gaming with the wrong ergonomic set up, can result in back, shoulder, hand and wrist problems.

And when this pain strikes it can destroy the whole gaming experience.

So, getting your favourite gamer a gift that can keep them safe and healthy while playing is a really great thing to do.

And the following ergonomic gifts for gamers can all do just that.

What Type Of Gifts Will Help Gamers Avoid Pain And Injuries?

So what exactly are the physical problems that gamers need to be wary of?

First and foremost, being sat down in front of your computer screen for hours on end can lead to the development of back, neck, and shoulder pain.

Especially if you're using a chair that is lacking in lumbar support and forces you to sit with a poor and tense posture.

Then there are the repetitive strain injuries from pounding away on your controller, mouse or keyboard that cause numbness and pain in the fingers, thumbs, hands and wrists.

After all, the terms 'Nintendinitis' and 'Playstation thumb' have been coined by medical professionals for a reason!

And you also need to be wary of straining your eyes from too much time staring at the screen as this can cause vision problems, dry eyes, and headaches.

However, the good news is that by adopting good habits you should be able to continue playing video games and avoid these issues.

And there are also many smart items you can buy that help you to optimise your gaming set-up for good health.

These all make great gifts to give to any avid gamer and include:

So, take a look through my list of gift ideas for gamers, as each of these items will do a great job of protecting them from any gaming-related pain.

Because no-one wants nagging aches and pains to get in the way of doing something they love.

1. A Comfortable & Supportive Gaming Chair

Your first port of call when creating the ideal gaming set up to stay pain-free while playing is to invest in a comfortable gaming chair with good lumbar support.

Because sitting down for long periods already puts you at a high risk of developing lower back pain.

As your spinal discs becomes compressed and the core muscles that support your spine throughout the day weaken through inactivity.

And when you use an unsuitable chair or couch while gaming this risk is even higher.

As these chairs lack adequate support and force you to sit in a posture that puts extra pressure and strain on your body as you play.

So you need a gaming chair that can be adjusted to fit your dimensions which will relieve pressure on your body.

While also being supportive and comfortable enough to make it easy to maintain a healthy sitting posture.

And a great choice of gaming chair that does both of these things and more is the AKRacing Masters Series Max.

As this chair comes with the following features that will help you to avoid any pain and tension from gaming:

And on top of all these features the 'Max' version of the AKRacing chair is a great choice as it caters for taller and larger people - a demographic that are more likely to suffer from back pain.

So, if the idea of getting your loved one a gaming chair that can keep them comfortable, supported, and protected against back pain sounds good, look no further than the AKRacing Masters Series Max.

2. A Lumbar Support Cushion For Better Posture

If you want to help a gamer sit with a healthier posture but can't stretch to getting them a new gaming chair then how about getting them a lumbar support cushion instead?

Because these cushions can be added to their existing chair to immediately give it better support.

As placing a lumbar support cushion between your lower back and the back of the chair stops your back from flattening out to a 'C' shaped curve which causes added strain on your body.

Making it easier to sit with a natural 'S' curve in your spine instead which relieves pressure and allows the muscles in your back to rest and relax rather than becoming tense and sore.

So they make a handy gift to give and come recommended by chiropractors and medical professionals for anyone that spends a fair amount of time sitting each day.

And the one I'd recommend for gamers is the Everlasting Comfort lumbar support cushion.

3. A Seat Cushion To Avoid A Numb Backside

Another area of your body that can start to hurt while playing video games is your butt.

As sitting on a chair for many hours can make your derriere go a bit sore and numb.

Especially if the seat of that chair is lacking in the required amount of padding and cushioning.

And having sore and tight glutes can lead to other issues such as sciatic pain in the legs and lower back pain as the back gets less support and is forced to compensate.

So this brings us to the next gift recommendation which is a comfortable seat cushion to sit on.

As one of these can add much needed padding and comfort to any chair that is a bit too hard and unforgiving on your backside.

And the cushion I'd recommend getting as a gift is the Everlasting Comfort seat cushion.

4. A Gaming Desk With Raised Monitor Stand

While it's super important to maintain a healthy sitting posture by keeping a natural 'S' shaped curve in your spine, you also need to be aware of the position of your head and neck.

Because to make sure your spine stays in a healthy alignment you need to be looking straight ahead while gaming rather than down, up, or off to the side.

Otherwise your neck and spine fall out of alignment and this creates a lot of pressure and strain on your neck, shoulders and upper back.

This problem is becoming ever more commonplace nowadays as people are getting 'text neck' by spending too much time looking down at their phones.

And when you consider that your head weighs about the same as a bowling ball then you can see how this can cause such a big problem!

So to avoid this pain you need to make sure you raise the height of the screen you are using to play games on so that it's central and you can look straight ahead at it.

And one way to do this is by using a desk that has an elevated monitor stand such as the Atlantic Gaming Desk Pro.

This way your screen is raised to a higher level than your keyboard and mouse meaning you have no need to look down.

And you can get it to the perfect height for you by adjusting the height of your chair.

So, this makes a great gift for any gamer that suffers from a sore neck and shoulders and comes with many other features that are appealing too.

Such as speaker stands, storage trays for their games and controllers, cup holders where they can put their drinks without risk of spillages, and hooks to rest their gaming headsets on.

5. An Adjustable Monitor Arm For Versatility

Another gift option to help someone get their screen height to the perfect level for them is an adjustable monitor arm.

These are great as they attach to your desk and allow you to change both the height and angle of your monitor.

So, no matter how you like to sit and play you can always ensure your screen is at a safe height and distance to keep you in alignment and avoid any eye strain.

And if this sounds like a better option that the gaming desk then check out the Humanscale Adjustable Monitor Arm.

As this can be move forwards, backwards, up and down to get into any position.

Meaning they'll have one less excuse for a sore neck and shoulders from gaming if you buy them one of these for their desks.

6. An Ergonomic Split Design Gaming Keyboard

Repetitive strain injuries are common among gamers due to the repeated actions needed with your fingers, hands and wrists to play video games.

And one of the worst culprits for this is your keyboard.

As most standard design keyboards force you to position your hands, wrists, and elbows into an unnatural position as you use them.

And over time this can cause you injuries such as tendinitis, joint pain, and even Carpal tunnel syndrome in more extreme cases.

So, if you know a gamer that enjoys games that rely heavily on using the keyboard to play then a great gift idea for them is an ergonomic gaming keyboard.

As these are designed to counter the problems caused by using a standard keyboard.

And the ideal one to get for them is the Kinesis Freestyle Edge Gaming Keyboard.

As this one has a split design meaning you can separate it to shoulder width apart so you can type away with your hands and elbows at a more comfortable, natural and healthy angle.

Which is perfect for relieving pressure and tension on your joints and keeping everything more relaxed.

And the keys are low force so it takes less effort to push them down which is good for your fingers over time.

So it really is the perfect gaming keyboard and one that every gamer will love.

Especially as it comes with built-in RGB backlighting settings that light up the keys with special effects to make it look awesome as they play.

7. A Vertical Mouse To Lessen The Strain

Another thing that can strain your joints and cause repetitive strain injuries is the mouse you use while gaming.

The reason for this is that a standard computer mouse requires you to flatten your hand on top of it to use it.

And this is bad because it puts a slight twist into your forearms and wrists that can start to cause pain and fatigue after a while.

While also making your fingers work harder and have to move a lot to click the buttons.

So a good ergonomic solution to this problem is to use a vertical mouse instead.

As these mice have been specially designed so you can use them with minimal effort while keeping your hands and arms in a more neutral and healthy position.

And the perfect choice as a gift for a gamer is the Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse.

As this mouse will keep their hand at a 57% angle which is perfect for avoiding any arm twisting and strain.

While clicking the buttons involves 4 times less movement than with a standard mouse.

So it's a great mouse to be able to keep your hands and arms relaxed and happy while gaming and to avoid any fatigue and pain.

8. A Finger & Hand Strengthening Tool

While getting your gaming set up right and using the right equipment is important for avoiding repetitive strain injuries, it's also a good idea to be a little proactive against it.

And you can do this by conditioning your hands, wrists and fingers to be better able to withstand the rigours of regular gaming.

As there are many stretches and hand-strengthening exercises you can carry out that will make a big difference to your whole gaming experience.

And there are also hand-strengthening tools available that make the whole process of protecting yourself a lot easier.

A good example of this is the VariGrip Sport Finger And Hand Strengthener and one of these would make a really helpful gift for any gamer that is worried about finger and hand pain.

As this palm-sized tool is super easy to use and can be kept in your pocket so you can use it on the go.

It comes with four keys that you squeeze down on with each finger to build up strength and conditioning.

And the tension and resistance of each of these can be adjusted individually so you can work some fingers harder than others.

You can also work your thumb by flipping it around which will help to relieve the tension of gaming.

So this tool is a great way to increase strength, endurance and dexterity in your fingers, thumbs, wrists and forearms.

Which is great for keeping you out of pain and can also help to improve your gaming performance too.

9. Blue Light Blocking Gaming Glasses

If you spend a significant amount of time each day staring at a screen or a smartphone then you'll probably already be familiar with some of the health consequences of this.

As the blue light and glare you get from these devices can really strain your eyes and result in fatigue, migraines, headaches and blurred vision.

None of which are ideal when you want to get stuck into a gaming marathon!

So, if you are like the many and fall into this category it's a good idea to wear protective glasses that block blue light while gaming or using your phone.

As this can help to protect and enhance your vision and allow you to keep playing more comfortably and for longer.

So a thoughtful gift idea for gamers is a pair of the Gunnar Optiks Intercept Gaming Glasses.

As these do a great job of blocking out blue light and glare while also looking stylish and feeling comfortable to wear.

And you can choose the strength of lens too depending on how much blue light you want to block, with the options being 98%, 65% or 35%.

So, if you want to help a gamer protect their vision and avoid headaches and eye strain then a pair of these glasses are a great gift option.

And cutting back on blue light will also help them to sleep better too so it's a double win!

10. An LED Light To Reduce Eye Strain

Now I'm sure we've all become so absorbed in a game before that you lose all track of time and end up playing well into the early hours.

But aside from a lack of sleep this can also present a different problem.

Because many of us play during the night in a dark room with only the screen providing any form of light.

And this can be a major cause of eye strain and headaches.

But even if you keep your lights on you can still strain your eyes if the glare of the light is too bright or strong.

So a good option for any gamer that plays during the night to have as part of their set up is a dimmable LED light.

As LED lighting is gentler on your eyes and by dimming it you can create the right mood and setting to keep you relaxed and comfortable as you play.

And a top choice to get as a gift is the Humanscale Element Adjustable LED Desk Light.

As this one emits a consistent light with minimal shadow that can really cut down on the harsh glare that can strain your eyes.

And you can dim it to make it as bright or as mellow as you like.

You can also easily manoeuvre the head of the lamp so the light shines exactly where you need it too.

And the design looks fantastic so this lamp will make a great gift and a worthwhile addition to any gamers desk.

Rounding Up

Gaming should be a fun and enjoyable activity that can challenge and engage you and really fire up your imagination.

So don't let nagging aches and pains spoil it for you or your loved ones.

Instead get an ergonomic gift for gamers that can protect them against muscle pain, repetitive strain injuries, and eye strain.

As this will keep them playing happily and safely without the risk of hurting themselves.