The excessive use of gadgets and gaming consoles may lead to repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) such as sore thumbs, inflamed elbows, and stiff shoulders. The British awareness group RSI Action reports that the majority of IT users remain RSI-free, yet more and more people are becoming afflicted, with some children as young as seven developing symptoms.
Have you ever suffered from any RSI-type symptoms?
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I remember my dear mother ranting at my brother and I, for months after receiving a nintendo for xams. I never suffered from more then a few thumb blisters but my brother actually gave up his paper route because he couldn't ride his bike due to wrist pain. At the time there were no RSI type explanations but shortly after the sun came back out and the nintendo went to the closet, my brother was able to ride his bike again. Looking forward I figure that the human interface with machines (toys) is going to evolve away from the buttons and joy sticks and onto more natural motion controls. Wii is the first step past the glove.
There are many jobs that require repetitive motions, from science labs to packing to manufacturing. In the States, OSHA has specific considerations for workers in these types of positions, and enforcement can require the company shell out serious dough to improve conditions to minimize strains. It's not surprising that this is becoming a problem in home/leisure activities as well--but I doubt that any number of warnings on the console will get people to change playing habits--and honestly, I can't say that I'm that worried about it. Surely this can't be the biggest concern for people's safety?
there are 7 year olds playing so much Playstation/Nintendo/XBox/Computer that they suffer from or show signs of RSI, their parents should get a swift punch in the face (perhaps several of them).
I had my monitor too low, ended up injuring my neck and unable to use half my hand for a year because it went numb. I used to touch-type with both hands but got used to using one finger on that hand and just haven't been able to get back into using all my fingers since.
In '95 i had a motorbike crash that paralysed my right arm so i had to change my life from very outdoorsy manual stylee (i used to be a blacksmith & drive articulated lorries)so this led to my interest in the world of i.t.
So after training up at a local college, building my own desktop system & getting connected to broadband - i discovered microsoft's Motorcycle Madness 2, a truly excellent game! ... i won't tell you just how many hours/days/months... were wasted(?) away reliving the joys motox riding, suffice to say that all that joystick action gave me a sore wrist & elbow & a numb finger & thumb. It took some time to dawn on me that i had lost the use of 1 arm to a motorbike & now i was busy loosing the other to a virtual motorbike - not only that but a microsoft 1 to boot! (i was truly addicted to that game!)
So now it is no gaming for me at all & even now 2 years after stopping i still can get a numb finger tip if i use the pc too much, & i also have 2 rather ugly lumps of 'gristle' on my wrist.
So go steady out there all you gaming freaks in cyberland - try not to get addicted, it is a real problem! & pay attention to all that health & safety advice about correct body positioning while on your pc (it may be boring but it all helps protect you!).
i know i know i should have had a slap back then but it's all a little late now
So after training up at a local college, building my own desktop system & getting connected to broadband - i discovered microsoft's Motorcycle Madness 2, a truly excellent game! ... i won't tell you just how many hours/days/months... were wasted(?) away reliving the joys motox riding, suffice to say that all that joystick action gave me a sore wrist & elbow & a numb finger & thumb. It took some time to dawn on me that i had lost the use of 1 arm to a motorbike & now i was busy loosing the other to a virtual motorbike - not only that but a microsoft 1 to boot! (i was truly addicted to that game!)
So now it is no gaming for me at all & even now 2 years after stopping i still can get a numb finger tip if i use the pc too much, & i also have 2 rather ugly lumps of 'gristle' on my wrist.
So go steady out there all you gaming freaks in cyberland - try not to get addicted, it is a real problem! & pay attention to all that health & safety advice about correct body positioning while on your pc (it may be boring but it all helps protect you!).
i know i know i should have had a slap back then but it's all a little late now
In '95 i had a motorbike crash that paralysed my right arm so i had to change my life from very outdoorsy manual stylee (i used to be a blacksmith & drive articulated lorries) this led to my interest in the world of i.t.
So after training up at a local college, building my own desktop system & getting connected to broadband - i discovered microsoft's Motorcycle Madness 2, a truly excellent game! ... i won't tell you just how many hours/days/months... were wasted(?) away re-living the joys motox riding, suffice to say that all that joystick action gave me a sore wrist & elbow & a numb finger & thumb. It took some time to dawn on me that i had lost the use of 1 arm to a motorbike & now i was busy loosing the other to a virtual motorbike - not only that but a microsoft 1 to boot! (i was truly addicted to that game!)
So now it is no gaming for me at all & even now 2 years after stopping i still can get a numb finger tip if i use the pc too much, & i also have 2 rather ugly lumps of 'gristle' on my wrist.
So go steady out there all you gaming freaks in cyberland - try not to get addicted, it is a real problem! & pay attention to all that health & safety advice about correct body positioning while on your pc (it may be boring but it all helps protect you!).
i know i know i should have had a slap back then but it's all a little late now
So after training up at a local college, building my own desktop system & getting connected to broadband - i discovered microsoft's Motorcycle Madness 2, a truly excellent game! ... i won't tell you just how many hours/days/months... were wasted(?) away re-living the joys motox riding, suffice to say that all that joystick action gave me a sore wrist & elbow & a numb finger & thumb. It took some time to dawn on me that i had lost the use of 1 arm to a motorbike & now i was busy loosing the other to a virtual motorbike - not only that but a microsoft 1 to boot! (i was truly addicted to that game!)
So now it is no gaming for me at all & even now 2 years after stopping i still can get a numb finger tip if i use the pc too much, & i also have 2 rather ugly lumps of 'gristle' on my wrist.
So go steady out there all you gaming freaks in cyberland - try not to get addicted, it is a real problem! & pay attention to all that health & safety advice about correct body positioning while on your pc (it may be boring but it all helps protect you!).
i know i know i should have had a slap back then but it's all a little late now
to their responsibility to staff health and safety, when it comes to stuff like RSI.
Personally, i send out a brief survey every 6 months to find out if everyone is happy with their workstation setup, whether their keyboards and mice are working ok, and things like that, but not everyone is the same.
My wife developed RSI after working on a pc doing financial stuff for long periods of time just punching numbers, then playing guitar in a band at night. She since went to uni, and graduated, and everything seemed to be under control. After starting a job at an estate agents, she found that using the phone and writing notes all day was bringing back the pain, and it got so bad that no amount of painkillers or treatments would help. Her employers had to be beaten into providing her with a headset for the phone, and provided one 4 months after her request.
Now, her office use pc's and with some "guidance" from myself and a couple of solicitors, they provided her with voice recognition software and a foot mouse. She rarely has to touch the pc or equipment itself, and her RSI is improving.
Personally, i send out a brief survey every 6 months to find out if everyone is happy with their workstation setup, whether their keyboards and mice are working ok, and things like that, but not everyone is the same.
My wife developed RSI after working on a pc doing financial stuff for long periods of time just punching numbers, then playing guitar in a band at night. She since went to uni, and graduated, and everything seemed to be under control. After starting a job at an estate agents, she found that using the phone and writing notes all day was bringing back the pain, and it got so bad that no amount of painkillers or treatments would help. Her employers had to be beaten into providing her with a headset for the phone, and provided one 4 months after her request.
Now, her office use pc's and with some "guidance" from myself and a couple of solicitors, they provided her with voice recognition software and a foot mouse. She rarely has to touch the pc or equipment itself, and her RSI is improving.
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