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Fear for the health of America's thumbs
As the popularity of SMS explodes across the United States, some fear for the health of America's thumbs, writes The Times-Picayune. All that thumbing at handhelds, say experts on ergonomics and hand therapists, can have painful consequences for a digit that was hardly designed for such tasks. "The thumb is not a particularly dexterous digit," said Alan Hedge, a professor of ergonomics at Cornell University. "It's really designed to use in opposition to the fingers. It is not designed for use in getting information into a system. People who use their thumbs a great deal for these kinds of tasks surely risk developing painful conditions." There is little empirical data on the health risks associated with thumb typing around the world, though health experts in Britain and Asia say they have seen a steady increase in complaints of sore thumbs among text messaging enthusiasts. Last year, the Chiropractors Association of Australia, sponsored a "National Day of Safe Text" during which participants wore bandages on their typing thumbs and practiced "text-ercises" aimed at heading off injuries and ailments. The most likely cause of thumb pain for texters is a condition called DeQuervain's tenosynovitis, an inflammation of the two tendons that control the thumb's movement. It is caused primarily by overuse. Stacey Doyon, therapist in Portland, recommends to observe several rules for avoiding problems: Give your thumbs a break. Don't spend hours at a time text messaging and, if you must stay constantly in touch, give other digits a turn. Related article: -- All thumbs, without the stigma. |
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