Finger Fatigue from Chainsaws

[SafetyNewbie]

For those that use chainsaws on a regular basis for hours on end, how big or small is the issue of "finger fatigue" caused by gripping and holding the throttle trigger? Your comments, experiences and solutions are welcome.

 

[blis]

I find that my fingers dont get that fatiqued (might be that i have quite strong support grip). To me bigger issue is that my forearms get toasted, esp the "lumberjack" muscle (the long one on top of forearm when hammer gripping something)...

 

[SafetyNewbie]

Blis,

It appears that you are a regular poster and a veteran chainsaw user. Roughly how many hours do you use a chainsaw daily? Are you a logger or arborist? Use rear handle or top handle saws?

Do you think that there is a cause and effect associated with finger fatigue on throttle trigger in order to overcome mechanical forces pushing against your trigger finger and thereby causing over compensation by lumberjack muscles via hammer gripping (I call this white knuckles syndrome)?

 

[blis]

Im professional by no means but i have cut plenty... normally when cutting i cut from 2-4 hours depending on weather and i saw 1-2 days a week (thats on spring/summer/fall)....

AFAIK, the white knuckle syndrome is caused by excessive vibration causes by older saws (and stihls) which leads to poor circulation in hands...

I myself use rear-handed saws, and when sawing with rear-handed saw the "lumberjack" muscle does most work (it lifts/lowers forearm) but it has nothing to do with white knuckle syndrome...

 

[SafetyNewbie]

Thanks for your reply and input. Being a rookie I have a lot to learn from this forum's season veterans and professionals. Anyone else out there with comments about throttle trigger finger fatigue?

 

[tek9tim]

In the summer, when I'm running saw the most, a short day is like 6 hours of cutting, with a long day being up to 12-13 hours on the saw, sometimes more if a fire breaks at the end of the shift after thinning all day. The muscle that always ends up sore for me is my left bicep from lifting the saw. My fingers don't usually get fatigued like you describe. I think I'm on and off the throttle frequently enough, and I'm not keeping a death grip on the trigger, and maybe that's why. There was a fire a couple years ago where I was running saw every day 12-13 hours a day, and several mornings I woke up with my hands balled up just like I was holding onto saw handles, but of course wasn't. I couldn't open my hands, had to pry them.

 

[blis]

In the summer, when I'm running saw the most, a short day is like 6 hours of cutting, with a long day being up to 12-13 hours on the saw, sometimes more if a fire breaks at the end of the shift after thinning all day. The muscle that always ends up sore for me is my left bicep from lifting the saw. My fingers don't usually get fatigued like you describe. I think I'm on and off the throttle frequently enough, and I'm not keeping a death grip on the trigger, and maybe that's why. There was a fire a couple years ago where I was running saw every day 12-13 hours a day, and several mornings I woke up with my hands balled up just like I was holding onto saw handles, but of course wasn't. I couldn't open my hands, had to pry them.

Thats becouse muscles shorten after over-straining them... that causes hands to ball up... You can notice the same thing by looking at hands, if hands are almost closed when relaxed it usually means strong grip or tight forearm muscles...

 

[habanero]

I find that my fingers dont get that fatiqued (might be that i have quite strong support grip). To me bigger issue is that my forearms get toasted, esp the "lumberjack" muscle (the long one on top of forearm when hammer gripping something)...

I would say I experience the same thing. My fingers never get tired at all, and all I run are old saws with little or no anti-vibe provisions (except for the 955). My forearms do get tired after several hours of cutting, though.

I usually saw a tank or two of gas, then swing the maul a while and split some up. Then go back and saw again, and back and forth. That way everything is sore by the end of the day and not just a few muscle groups.

 

[blis]

I usually saw a tank or two of gas, then swing the maul a while and split some up. Then go back and saw again, and back and forth. That way everything is sore by the end of the day and not just a few muscle groups.

So true about soreness, i remember one time when i couldnt even bend over to put socks to my feet becouse my back/abs/sides/legs were so sore from yesterdays sawing...

 

[habanero]

So true about soreness, i remember one time when i couldnt even bend over to put socks to my feet becouse my back/abs/sides/legs were so sore from yesterdays sawing...

I've never had too many "next-day soreness" episodes from sawing, but I used to get that from the first day of baling hay every summer. That's where I'd get the hand issues tek9tim spoke about. Wake up the next day still grabbing the twine strings...

 

[tek9tim]

Yeah, that's the only time that ever happened to me. A couple of days in there, I did get some breaks from the saw, but that was to swing a pulaski or carry a driptorch, so I was pretty much constantly gripping something for 16 hour shifts. I do a lot more stretches now to avoid troubles like that.

 

[1953greg]

"The muscle that always ends up sore for me is my left bicep from lifting the saw. My fingers don't usually get fatigued like you describe. I think I'm on and off the throttle frequently enough, and I'm not keeping a death grip on the trigger, and maybe that's why. " says tek9tim

dito that for me. i am a weekend warrior so i have a 10# dumbell i curl 2x75 2or 3 nites/wk and a 5# wrist pin here at the desk and still the bicep is the most tired muscle at the end of the day, especially when topping has been difficult.

 

[Dan Forsh]

I think the condition you're thinking of is "white finger" which I think is permanent or recurring numbness of the fingers from poor circulation. I think it is more commonly associated with the use of percussive tools such as jack hammers.

Google "White finger" I'm sure you'll find lots of info.

 

[Wismer]

The muscle that always ends up sore for me is my left bicep from lifting the saw.

Yea, Same here

 

[Timberhauler]

I was in a terrible mood until I found this thread,now I'm gonna be laughing all night...Thanks guys

 

[l2edneck]

I find that a long day of runnin the saw makes it hard to grab things,pens mostly.Sometimes i will be tryin to write and my fingers literally feel like they are exausted.I also get alot of numbness in my hands but not sure if its from runnin a saw for many years or something else.

 

[Cedarkerf]

Ran saws 68 hours a day 4 days a weak in the past never had a trigger finger problem. It's always been cramping in my left hand from lifting the weight of the saw with the front handle all day. No numbness just cramps and the for arm to.

 

[habanero]

Ran saws 68 hours a day 4 days a weak in the past....

Where were you that you could find 68 hour days??? Man, I could get a lot of crap done there...

Just kidding, I know what you meant...

 

[tawilson]

There's an exercise you can do to strengthen your grip. I forgot what it's called, but it's something along the lines of putting an imaginary cat in your lap and pretending to stab it nine times.

 

[blis]

There's an exercise you can do to strengthen your grip. I forgot what it's called, but it's something along the lines of putting an imaginary cat in your lap and pretending to stab it nine times.