“Today, there’s much more contact — but a lot less communication.”
N. DiNubile, MD
When I was a kid growing up in downtown Philly, getting a black eye was a cool right of passage. Now, blackberry thumb is the hip ailment that is growing in popularity — same for iPod finger.
Blackberry thumb and iPod finger are overuse-related tendinitis in the hand that occur from repetitive thumbing and finger use with small handheld devices that have grown exponentially in terms of popularity. Even my somewhat technophobe big sister sends me messages from all over the globe.
In the past, when video games just hit the scene, we saw “nintendonitis.” Similar ailments are now seen in the thumb and other fingers in those who peck away at laptops, not known for their good ergonomics. Instant messenger addicts get “texting tendinitis” and cell phone junkies have “numb thumb.” Carpal tunnel syndrome too is on the rise. With new technology comes new ailments.
Fortunately, these problems are usually not serious and do respond to some simple measures including avoiding the handhelds for a few days and taking Advil or Aleve. Ice or heat and some stretching help as well. If symptoms persist, see an orthopaedic specialist who can make an accurate diagnosis and get you started on a treatment program.
My best advice is to try to prevent it completely by taking frequent breaks and stretching regularly. Think of it as a rest stop on the information superhighway. Try these simple exercises every hour of high-tech hunting and pecking:
- Shake your hands out, then open and close your hands fully ten times, like making a fist.
- Put your elbow straight with your hand open in front of you with your fingers pointing up and your palm facing away from you like a policeman signaling “stop”. Gently pull back on your fingers. Hold 10 seconds and repeat.
- Next, with your elbow still fully straight, reverse your hand and wrist so the fingers are pointing downward- pull your palm downward towards you. Hold 10 seconds and repeat.
- Shake things out again and massage your palms, wrists and forearms.
These simple exercises can go a long way in keeping you healthy. Even yoga has been shown to be effective in preventing many of these common repetitive strain ailments. Better yet, pick up the phone to make direct contact with your friends and colleagues — or is that too passé? IM me your thoughts.
FitTip
Remember contact is not communication, and communication is not understanding. Don’t let your daily contacts fall short- strive for quality interaction, especially with those who are important to you.
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