Wrist starting to hurt even on short shoots

[tom_collins3]

<p>Hello! I have noticed some discomfort in my left wrist lately while shooting and I'm pretty sure it's due to poor position/placement of my left hand causing my wrist to bend backwards. I shoot with a 40D, 17-55 2.8 lens, and 580EXII flash on top most of the time. Is there a "proper" way to position your left hand and wrist while shooting to properly manage the weight of the camera/lens/flash combination? I would love to see diagrams or pictures. </p>

[blake_schwalbe]

<p>I'm not sure about proper positioning, but have you looked into a hand strap for the camera? It makes it a lot easier to hold a heavy camera.</p>

[dave_wilson1]

<p>You might have your hands in severe angles and/or have a tight grip. Try to angle your hands differently and more gently, plus maybe consider a bracket.</p>

[booray]

<p>Last year i did something to my left wrist... don't know if it was a hairline fracture or carpel-tunnel... and I would get stabbing pains spmetimes when shooting. I bought a carpel-tunnel brace and wore it for a few weeks and now all is good. You might try a brace for a while..</p>

[picturesque]

<p>It is odd that it is your left wrist that is hurting. Normally, it is the right wrist, from gripping the camera and supporting the weight of the gear all the time.</p>

<p>If it is the left wrist, and you can repeat the angle which causes pain, then figure out what you are doing at that time--supporting weight or holding the lens or camera at an angle or both. Are you 'at rest' when doing this or actively shooting? Normally, these issues are from repeatedly doing the same thing for hours on end. For instance, is it from holding your 70-200mm f2.8 up for long periods?</p>

<p>While wearing a brace can help for the short term, unless something changes, the pain will persist. Oddly enough, something like a bracket can actually help in some cases. So--what are you doing when you have the pain?</p>

[david_schilling___chicago_]

<p>I'm doubting that it's related to the ergonomics of shooting your camera and is more likely due to something else..... Either way, a good ortho doc or physiatrist is likely a more prudent source of help rather than a photography forum. Good luck.</p>

[tom_collins3]

<p>Nadine, I have had some pain after a long wedding in my right hand, so I know what you're talking about. The pain is while I'm actively shooting. I think it's because I'm breaking my wrist backwards at the base of the camera, where the lens meets the body, for extra support which is creating an extreme angle. When I'm conscious of it, I can keep my wrist straight, but that's not what my habit is right now.</p>

[Jerry_]

<p>...you could start <strong>doing 30 to 40 push-ups</strong> every morning. Building strength in your arms will offset the chance of having a small weight (your camera-lens-flash) straining any muscles or ligaments in your arm-wrist parts.</p>

<p> </p>

[picturesque]

<p>Sounds to me like you need to re-learn your lens/camera holding with your left hand. Re-train the hand. A brace will help in the short term, particularly if it will 'remind' you that you are bending it too much--in other words it will help retrain you. However, unless you intend to wear the brace all the time, the re-training is necessary.</p>

[stwrtertbsratbs5]

<p>See a doctor. This isn't the place to seek medical advice.</p>

[david_noceti]

<p>Are you a left eye shooter? I find that I bend my left wrist more when I'm viewing the scene with my left eye as opposed to the right. And as others have said, pay attention to other things that you do throughout the day. While shooting my be the point at which you feel the pain, it's likely something else that you do on a day to day basis that is actually causing the problem, shooting just brings it to the surface. For instance, I found that when I was doing a lot of commuting and getting stuck in rush hour traffic every day, I would prop my elbow on the armrest a lot. That eventually led to pain in my left wrist. These days the problem is with my right. Years of using an impact gun, coupled with years of graphic design have lead to a very overworked wrist. I find that stretching and a $5 hand strength builder from a sports store helps the best.</p>

<p>And while seeking advice from a doctor is a good idea, it doesn't hurt to first ask others working in the same profession if they've had similar issues. It arms you with information that can be shared with the doctor who likely does not have an intimate working knowledge with what could be causing the problem. I for one say that this is the perfect place to start.</p>

[jimstrutz]

<p>I would advise taking your camera to the doctor, so you can show him how you're holding it. And I wouldn't go to a general practitioner. Look for a specialist. Someone here must know what they call those docs.</p>

<p>He'll probably tell you to get a point & shoot. :)</p>

 

[davebell]

<p>I have found that the Sun-Sniper strap is brillliant in enabling one to let go of the camera and give the poor armis and wrists a break, as the camera then dangles next to your butt. I often shoot with two 5D (Mk i & ii) cameras with grips, slung over my person, one with a 70-200 F2.8 IS and another with a 24-105, or 28-75, and sometimes with flashguns attached. After 15 hours I can feel it..... but that sun sniper strap helps a hang of a lot!</p>

[bob_bill]

<p>Bodybuilders learn to keep the joint in a stable position under load. The classic error is bench pressing with the thumb not coming around the bar opposing the thumb, instead, riding with the fingers. Necessitates angling the wrist back at 90 degrees to keep the bar from rolling off the palm, really unstable, then put 2-300lbs on the bar and bad things happen, maybe not immediately, but with repetitive micortears over time, can lead to real problems. If your left hand is supporting say 6 lbs of glass and body for 8 hours in the unstable position, that might be the problem. Might try keeping the hand and forearm as aligned as possible. If it feels like you are moving it to the limit, it may be too far. its part of the reason I started using a battery pack with second shutter/exposure controls because shooting portraits am in potrait orientation most of the time and the right arm was doing the flying thing.</p>

[jpo3136b]

<p>Photography is not a full contact sport, unless you do it that way on purpose. If you're having discomfort or strain, something's not right. You might want to see a medical professional for pain advice.</p>

[BelaMolnar]

<p>http://knol.google.com/k/how-to-hold-the-camera-with-your-hands-for-best-support#<br>

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera<br>

http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/11/avoiding-shake-how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/</p>

[mike_hitchen]

<blockquote>

<p> think it's because I'm breaking my wrist backwards at the base of the camera, where the lens meets the body,</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I think that may be the main problem - if you are supporting under the camera body, it could be that you are behind the centre of gravity of the camera/lens which means that the camera is permanently rotating downwards. So not only do you have (as you noted) your wrist at an extreme angle, you are also having to grip (rather than support) to stop the camera falling forwards. I would say move your hand until the camera/lens is equally weighted between the nearest and farthest part of your supporting hand (between the heel off your hand and your fingers). This way, the hand can support the camera rather than grip it.</p>

<p>Also, do you support it with the palm of your hand parallel to the floor with the camera resting across the heel of your hand? That does seem to be an extreme angle. I rest mine largely along the edge of my thumb, the curve of my index finger and the top joints of my other fingers - the best way I can describe it is as if I am pulling a rope (for example in a tug-of-war) where it is the line of the thumb and the four fingers that are supporing the weight of the camera leaving the palm itself to drop slightly.</p>

<p>I hope you manage to srot the problem soon.</p>

[mendel_leisk]

<p>I'd second Jerry Litynski's advice. About a decade back I was having escalating wrist/forearm/shoulder pain, due to too much time at the computer. Nothing really has changed on that front, but what I have done, with great success in dispersing those symptoms:</p>

<p>1. Two sessions of 20 push ups daily.<br>

2. Acquired a few dumbells, and follow the exercise regimens semi-regularly.<br>

3. Stay on the look out for health/exercise suggestions, try various strength/aerobic routines.<br>

4. Learned to touch type, and became ambidextrose with mice.<br>

5. Look for chores to vary my physical workouts, ie: gardening, car washing/waxing, walking, stair climbing, and so on.<br>

6. Whenever possible, vary what I'm doing, switch it up, take breaks.</p>

[mendel_leisk]

<p>I know: "ambidextrous". Anywhere else on the net I could fix this...</p>

[William Michael]

<p>Its correct. It is a "two way" sugar - it powers both sides of the body simultaneously, the "ambi" has been dropped; as it was just too confusing.

 

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Just don't sprinkle it over the mouse - not the computer kind, anyway, but, the other mice love it.

 

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Tom:

 

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It I held my camera the way you described - I think you have to UNlearn that grip, quickly.

 

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WW</p>

 

[William Michael]

<blockquote>

<p>"I would love to see diagrams or pictures."</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Variations on a theme:</p>

<p>1: <a href="../photo/10963062&size=lg">http://www.photo.net/photo/10963062&size=lg</a></p>

<p>This is a fairly standard grip showing the left hand bracing (and embracing) the barrel of the lens. The left hand grip is ready for both manual focus and also zoom (if as zoom lens).</p>

<p>Note: She sometimes uses the right middle finger to fire - the right index finger stays on the thumbwheel - (Canon DSLR's, 40D and 5D) - that is the finger movement she is going to do, in this shot.</p>

<p>***</p>

<p>2: <a href="../photo/9205014&size=lg">http://www.photo.net/photo/9205014&size=lg</a></p>

<p>When using a short lens I'll often drop, the Left Hand just underneath the body, the left thumb making a base for the camera and the left index finger a base for the lens.<strong>**</strong></p>

<p>Note the camera has a battery grip so the base of the camera so about 2 inches below the lens rather than bracing the lens.</p>

<p>Also I almost always use the neck strap wrapped as a wrist strap (which I haven't fully completed here but there is one wrap through my fingers). If I don't have neck straps attached to the bodies, I have wrist straps, which I use not as often now. With neck straps it is easier to carry two or three bodies quickly and safely: and it is quick to make a neck strap into a wrist strap - if needed.</p>

<p>The grip for a short lens is very relaxed and balanced.</p>

<p>Gripping any camera too tight is not good – IMO.</p>

<p>WW</p>

<p>PS:</p>

<blockquote>

<p><strong>** </strong>I note Mike's comments: "if you are supporting under the camera body, it could be that you are behind the centre of gravity of the camera/lens which means that the camera is permanently rotating downwards."</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I agree - that's why I reitereate the position of the left index finger supporting the lens AND that I use this grip for short length lenses only.</p>

<p>WW</p>

[david_garcia10]

<p>see a doctor and put a wrist strap everytime you shoot. i don't put it on engagement session but need it for weddings. good luck!</p>

[photom]

<p>Try using a monopod with either an L-bracket and a med. size ballhead with a drop down slot, or, a good camera rotator bracket. Also, improves performance of your lenses and you do not need expensive VR lenses. I use one a lot. Once you get used to it, mobility is not that much of an issue.</p>

[tom_collins3]

<p>Thanks for all of the tips and links! Just being conscious of my poor positioning, it's already getting better. </p>