“BlackBerry Thumb” sparks new form of hand massage
Whatever kind of “thumbs” you have we’re “all thumbs and toes” for you here at TaoMassage to help prevent and heal “BlackBerry Thumb”.
The American Physical Therapy Association recently recognized BlackBerry Thumb as an official work place malady — a stress-related injury due to over-use of any PDA or smartphone.
Professor Alan Hedge, an ergonomics specialist at Cornell University in New York state, said the condition is caused by “highly repetitive, forceful thumb movements with the thumbs held back from the palms.”
The symptoms are pain in the thumb and region around the base of the thumb and hand. Treatment typically consists of resting or strapping the thumb, anti-inflammatory medicines, cortisone injections and, as a last resort, surgery.
“It’s a bit like the “Nintendo thumb” of the ’90s,” said occupational therapist Andrew Morton, referring to young people who spent hours battering hand-held video game controllers with their thumbs.
Morton, who specializes in hand therapy at the University Hospital in London, Ontario, said this problem was going to become more common, with increasing numbers of hand-held electronic devices with small buttons being used.
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