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CES: Can a Gyroscope Ball Really Cure Wrist Pain?

First off, let me say that I have no formal training or any sort of degree in anything even remotely related to this. I'm not medically qualified to give you professional advice on this sort of stuff. But from using using these things, I would wager that very few kinds pain will actually be cured from this. I don't know how carpal tunnel syndrome responds to this but I thought that was a condition of the nerves and I fail to see how this could help that (I'm totally sold on muscles though and, through that, maybe extremity blood flow). I would be wary of someone selling this to me heralding it as a panacea for all things past your elbow.

Have you used a gyroscope exercise ball?

Yes.

If so, did it help cure a wrist problem or help strengthen your hands and fingers? And which of these brands (if any) did you try?

I had no wrist problems to begin with but a roommate at the time called them "climber balls" and said climbers use them. So, being a software developer with terrible posture by trade and enjoying video games, bass guitar playing, piano playing, more programming, book writing, etc on the side, I felt it was in my interest to try as best as possible to preserve my wrists. So I asked for one for Christmas and received the orange PowerBall pictured here with digital back. I used it for a while and tried to do 10 minutes a day with it, alternating hands as the digital readout would let me see how fast I could get it (I think I got it up regularly to 9,000 RPM and 13,000 RPM once while incredibly intoxicated). Basically I'd burn up right off the bat with each arm and then try to get into a sustaining groove. Definitely more exerting than it looks. I would also alternate between grips. The two most comfortable ones seemed to be palming it from the back and wrapping my thumb and index finger around the grip while supporting with the other fingers. And I noticed a serious burn (a good, like exercise burn) at first in my hand and forearm but then only in my forearm. From my experience, I suspect that once your hand's grip hits a certain point it's good to go whereas the muscles pumping energy into the gyroscope are actually located in the wrist/forearm. So I believe it was working. I was, however, also doing exercises like wrist curls, inverse wrist curls, wrist extensions with a 45 lb. bar at the gym from time to time. And I was also doing other exercises that probably inadvertently helped strengthen these same areas.

So anyway, one day my friend stayed over and brought his dog. He slept on the couch, his dog whimpered in his kennel so he took him out and fell asleep with him. Dog got a hold of the PowerBall and that was that. Recently these NSDs went on sale for $25 for Black Friday (as shown here) and so I purchased two with the intent of having one at my desk in cubeland and one at home. While I'm happily using one, I left the other packaged and might gift it up because no matter how nice these balls are, they do make a good deal of noise (and the ones with revolution powered LEDs look dance-rave in the dark). The digital options on the NSDs aren't as nice or intuitive as the PowerBall LCD functions but I haven't given that a lot of time so that could just be RTFA ignorance on my part. I just use them as a straight up exercise device now with no intent of breaking records on youtube so I've stopped fussing with the electronics part of them. These NSDs are so far seemingly higher construction than the PowerBalls and are much easier to start but also seem more expensive. I suppose I would have to use this for a year before I start reporting on wear and tear. Watch for a sale on an NSD, when you

I believe that gyroscope thingy you are talking about is called "powerball": http://www.powerballs.com/

It comes and goes for me, particularly bad when I'm not using my split keyboard for any long period of time. My wrists would feel tingly which became especially noticeable at night. I even bought an Evoluent vertical mouse and that made little to no difference.

People may frown at people like us on this forum and indeed I've known people with terrible setups to have no problems whatsoever, but some of us are just more prone to it than others. I type a lot at work and as a fast touch typist I generally type far more than my colleagues.

I got myself a Powerball and within just 2 days I noticed a big difference! I couldn't believe how effective it is. All it takes is a few minutes each day at 5000-7000 rpm, a few times a week to maintain the strength and now I never notice my wrists tingling even after a long day at work.

http://www.powerballs.com/

First off, all the above suggestions are great. Yes, I've had enough problems that I haven't actually been able to touch a computer (let alone anything else), so I've been there.
- Try to learn to mouse with your left hand. It'll be annoying at first, but the way I made myself get over it was start up a game and then don't let go. I had it down within a couple of hours. Don't change the buttons around, though!
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Learn to type correctly
- Correct desk/chair
- Drink lots of coffee and tea, preferably from a cantine away from the desk

Finally - powerball. Though it's more the physical therapy direction, I've seen it help lots of people. Maybe she should try that? http://www.powerballs.com/.

Good luck!
Hannah

Buy her a powerball.
http://www.powerballs.com/
It's a fantastic device that really helps with RSI.

I just got a powerball about a week ago. Its too early to tell, but my wrist seems to feel a little better.

It's a gyroscope which really works your wrists as you try to keep it moving. It creates quite a force. Read more here -- http://www.powerballs.com/carpal_tunnnel_rsi.html

This awesome gyroscope will stay fun forever: http://www.powerballs.com/neon_green2.html. I play with mine all the time.

Just give them a couple of Powerballs and have 'em start spinning. Powerballs