Bicycle Mechanics - mechanics with wrist problems?

I am a mechanic of about 5 years. I use a 3 way everyday and it is starting to take its toll on my hands. my wrists hurt so bad after work. i have tried to ween myself off the 3 way but its hard. the spoke wrench doesn't seem to be my friend either.


do any other professional mechanics out there have wrist problems?

Not so far but I will tell you that my hands become rather tired if I build more than 3 wheels a day. All that holding, twisting, and squeezing can get to them. The three-way is the best tool ever. Hands down. I mean the blue one is handy, the socket one comes into play on the Huffys and the green one is great for SRAM products.

-Ryan

yeah i agree. 3 ways are very handy. i just think that twisting motion is not the best thing for you

Don't seem to have that problem, and I turn out 3-4 wheels a day.

yeah i went for the longest time without any problems but i think its something that happends over time. then again everyones body is different so it might not bother other people at all

It sounds like repetitive motion/carpal tunnel syndrom. Start dealing with it now or you will have to get an operation.

I'm on wheel number 512, I use the three way tooling every day and have no problems yet. I did however build a wheel truing table on wheels so that I can sit in a chair and move the table so that I get a straight shot at the nipple I'm turning and can keep my wrist straight while keeping both dails in view. I find my arms don't get tired that way. I also find the specific spoke wrenches to be easier on the fingers, the multi wrenches cause my fingers to get sore.

Yep, I worked as a mechanic for 4 years and after the first couple, the constant use of 3-ways and T handled allen wrenches started taking there tole. I would have a lot of soreness in the wrist after a full day of wrenching and sometimes it would last for a while.

After taking a few years off I'm now back at a shop but this time as a salesperson. I don't make it back to the shop too often except to work on my own stuff and the occasional customers bike when were busy. When I do though, I no longer have any problems. I'm guessing it's a repetetive stress injury. Staying off those 3-ways will help, but that would be hard to do.

sorry....what are 3-ways?

Well, preferably one guy and two girls having.....oh wait...wrong message board.

Three ways are wrenches that bike mechanics often use. They are basically three prongs each 120* apart and each has a specific size tool on the end. Usually 4mm, 5mm, 6mm allen wrenches. There is also a smaller version and a socket version as well.

Im an electrician, Ive been working in the trade 17 years now, I have honestly found that a tool designed for a single job, is the best for that job.
Those multi bit screw drivers have ill designed handles that really do stress your hands, as do the "Does it all" bike tools. "Y" handle allen wrenches, and Multi sized spoke tools look uncomfortable to use to this pair of eyes. Ive not tried them, so I may be wrong.
I will admit wheel building does take it out on your hands, I built a pair two years ago, (actually I built the same pair twice, the shop blew the spoke calculation, and I had the spokes up through the nippls!!) and my hands were tired after putting them together.
If your Doctor is at all into preventative care, im sure there are stretches you can do to keep your wrists limber and hands from fatiguing too greatly.
I've found that they help me, ( I broke my wrist last year and it is slow to recover, I was casted too long according to the Physio Therapist)
Good luck and keep wrenching!

Hi Ryan
Need to get the doc to check it out. Before you do permanent damage. I'm an aircraft mech. and there is a guy I work with that is disabled now and he is stuck teaching mechanics instead of turning a wrench.

Hey, I can tell you that I am already suffering from carpal tunnel (i'm not a mechanic, though) and using a three way when I work on my own bike bothers me. DON'T LET IT GET ANY WORSE!!!! Get to a doctor, find different tools/different positions, and maybe even get some wrist splints. I know they're uncool, I'm 21 and I'm stuck with them. You can find them in different colors I hear. Please take care of yourself though, it's not something you want to be stuck with.

Jessica

Try this http://www.bodymindresources.com/carpalthoracic/carpaltheory.htm

I am a mechanic of about 5 years. I use a 3 way everyday and it is starting to take its toll on my hands. my wrists hurt so bad after work. i have tried to ween myself off the 3 way but its hard. the spoke wrench doesn't seem to be my friend either.


do any other professional mechanics out there have wrist problems?

Anybody who does constant repetitive movements specially when using smaller tools tend to cause problems to the wrist joint. Of course years count in terms of longitivity as a mechanic but what counts most is the number of times you move your wrist in a single motion, say turning the wrench combined with bending the wrist. This movements causes micro trauma to the ligaments of your flexor tendons of the wrist causing it to swell as you continually do those repetitive movements. Best thing to do is to rest that hand and do strech your wrist flexors. It seems that you already have CTS - carpal tunnel syndrome. Need to see a speciallist before it gets too bad. It can be a devastating injury when it gets worse with symptoms of numbness, pain and tingling to your hand.It also bothers you at night while your sleeping - your hand hurts and if does that, buy you a wrist brace from walmart or your local pharmacy and use it before you go to sleep. As my father used to say, take care of your health because when it's gone, you won't be able to enjoy life as a whole. As a therapist, the best thing to do is always do preventive methods. You may enjoy working as a bike mechanic but if it causes you harm to your body, you may need to decrease your work hours or worse case scenario, may need to change jobs. Once loss of function occurs to our hands, it makes life difficult. Make sure you see a doctor before things get worse and rest that hand.