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Wed, Apr 30, 2008 12:00 EDT
Orthopedic Surgeon's Ad Gives Tips to Cure "BlackBerry Thumb"...Give Me a Break
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Topic: Personal Management Blog: Mobile WorkHorse
Current Rating: |
Today I came across a press release from an orthopedic surgeon in which he discusses "BlackBerry Thumb," or thumb/hand/wrist strain due to constant typing on mobile devices or other tiny keyboards. It gave me a good chuckle so I thought I'd share.
The release, from Dr. Glenn D. Cohen, M.D., describes the ailment and offers up five tips to help do away with, or at least reduce, the associated symptoms. And it's packed with gems like this:
"[H]ands are similar to tires on a car. When you drive frequently, quickly and with lots of cargo on board your tires will wear much faster than the Sunday driver cruising on Pacific Coast Highway in her convertible."
The good doctor warns that failure to address BlackBerry Thumb can result in "a multitude of problems" like swollen, painful joints, tendons or nerves, tingling, numbness and even locking fingers. Oh my.
And he suggests that treatment could necessitate hand therapy, splinting, ultrasounds, electrical stimulation, heat, ice, anti-inflammatory drugs, injections and surgery—all of which can be provided, of course, by Dr. Cohen at his Thousand Oaks, Calif., private practice.
If you thought Cohen's hands/tires analogy was particularly insightful, wait to you read his prevention tips. They are as follows:
1) "Start by minimizing all unnecessary usage of computerized devices; especially miniature gadgets."
Does that mean driving less reduces the wear-and-tear on my new Dunlops, too? Whodathunkit?
2) "When possible, speak on the phone and avoid e-mailing and texting."
So talking on the phone can actually be therapeutic?
3) "Pay attention to how you carry out your activities. Correct posture and ergonomic positioning may help."
Wait, if it hurts to type with my thumb bent to the right, I should straighten it out?
4) "If you are required to type for your job, find the largest keyboard with the biggest spacing between keys so your hands are not working in a cramped space."
BlackBerry Bluetooth keyboard, here I come...
5) "It is also beneficial to take occasional breaks to stretch your extremities."
I think I'm starting to see a trend here: The less typing I do, the lesser risk I face of contracting or worsening the dreaded BlackBerry Thumb.
Is it me, or are these "tips" all really just common sense? I think I'll steer clear of Dr. Cohen. As someone who receives countless press releases each day, the thought of my medical professional pitching his services this way makes me feel, well, ill.
If you're interested, more information on Cohen and his services can be found on his website, aptly located at HandSurgeon.com.
AS
Rating:
Personally I found the analogies and explanation to be refreshing. What he says makes sense and some people do need it dumbed down to a simple level so that they can understand it. Too often physicians speak in a language foreign to everyone but their colleagues.
You must be bored to have wasted your time on a well intentioned physician. Keep typing useless rants like this and you will have your own problems.
H.H.
Thanks for the comment, H.H. It's always "refreshing" for me to hear readers' opinions, whether they're in line with my own or not.
However, I must say anyone who needs another person to tell them typing less using a strained thumb or otherwise injured digit is a good thing, probably has more issues to deal with than just a sore finger.
I'm also not too sure about Mr. Cohen's intentions, seeing as how he issued a press release touting his private practice with little-to-no real insight into the condition known as BlackBerry Thumb.
And trust me, I'm rarely bored and I already have plenty of problems. ;)
AS
Rating:
I find it hard to believe you're taking this so lightly. So you probably think carpal tunnel of the wrist is a big joke too. Sure, people in corporate America may think this is 'common sense'. We have specialists in our safety departments whose sole job is to make sure that people working at computers have things set up correctly. Companies I've worked for send out guides on computer 'exercises' to relieve stress on wrists.
But a lot of the people that use blackberry's or text a lot may not understand that 'repetitive stress' can affect other joints as well. It has nothing to do with current injuries. I'm sure that the 18 year old kid texting to his friends doesn't realize what he could be doing to his tendons. And I would guess that your normal manager doesn't realize it either until it's too late.
Hello Anonymous,
I'm not taking carpal tunnel syndrome lightly, at all.
Believe me, I use my BlackBerry as much as anybody, and I type on a computer keyboard all day and into most nights. I certainly understand that carpal tunnel syndrome, and even "BlackBerry Thumb," if that's what you want to call it, are very real conditions.
What I am taking lightly are Dr. Cohen's common sense "tips" to help alleviate or avoid the condition--that just happen to be shamelessly placed in a press release touting his own private practice.
Can any of you honestly tell me that your gut reaction to BlackBerry Thumb symptoms would not be to decrease typing as much as possible? I know that whenever my typing thumb starts aching, I stop typing...
AS
About this Blog
Al Sacco writes about (and drools over) anything and everything mobile or wireless as it applies to the global workforce.
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