RSI, the symptoms of which include pain and immobility in the
joints, nerves and muscles from the fingers to the neck, is caused
by repetitive movements and fatigue resulting from natural stresses
and strains on the body.
It is frequently found in the workplace, where factors such as
inadequate computer set up or repetitive or monotonous work
patterns are to blame. Texting is also a cause.
Each year, 3.8 million people complain of injuries resulting
from text messaging, according to the nationwide survey by Virgin
Mobile. Each day, almost 100 million texts are sent in the UK – so
perhaps it is no surprise that 38% of us suffer from sore wrists
and thumbs as a result.
The problem stems from the small size of mobiles. People tend to
hold the device in their fingers and press the tiny keys with their
thumbs. This reverses the computer keyboard position, where clumsy
thumbs are relegated to the space bar and let fingers do the
typing.
And while most text messages are short, the survey shows that
users make up for this by sending a lot of text messages: 10% of
those surveyed send up to 100 texts a day.
British Chiropractic Association (BCA) spokesperson Dr Matthew
Bennett was unsurprised by the findings.
“BCA chiropractors recognise that text messaging regularly, over
a long period of time, could cause repetitive strain which may
cause both short and long term injuries," he said.
Dr Bennett expects the problem to worsen unless users take
precautions.
"When text messaging, the tendency is to keep your shoulders and
upper arms tense," he explained. "This cuts down the circulation to
the forearm, when in fact it needs a greater than normal blood flow
to achieve the consistent movements of the thumbs and fingers.“
In a bid to prevent injury, Dr Bennett has compiled a range of
simple exercises to combat effects of RSI through texting:
Sensible advice
- If texting starts to hurt. Stop. Use the other hand or call
instead.
- Vary the hand you use.
- Vary the digits you use.
- Don’t text for more than a few minutes without a break.
Exercises
Stop these exercises if you feel any pain otherwise you can do
more harm than good.
In your texting hand:
- Tap each finger with the thumb of the same hand. Repeat 5
times.
- Pull your thumb firmly with the other hand. Repeat 5
times.
- Wrap an elastic band around the tips of fingers and thumb and
open your hand against the resistance. Repeat 20 times.
- Palms down wrap an elastic band around each thumb and force
apart. Repeat 20 times.
- Tap the palm and back of your hand on your thigh as quickly as
you can. Repeat 20 times.
- Massage thumb web, back of forearm and front of forearm. 2
minutes.
- Press and rub in a circular motion the painful nodules in those
muscles. 30 seconds for each nodule.
- Reach up high with both arms and shake your hands. Reach down
low with both arms and shake. Repeat 3 times.
- Arms at 45 degrees, squeeze them behind you.
- If it still hurts after a week of doing exercises wrap an ice
pack on sore hand and arm parts. Do not put ice directly on the
skin but wrap in a thin cloth or piece of kitchen roll. 10 minutes
on, 10 minutes off. Repeat 3 times.
In November, the BCA warned that music fans who constantly use
the scroll-wheel or buttons on their MP3 players are at risk of
'iPod Finger'. It said that young children are particularly
susceptible to this form of RSI because their bones and muscles are
not fully developed. The BCA recommended that users flex their hand
muscles – to keep the blood flowing and break up the repetition –
and vary the finger used to operate the device.
