Children at risk from RSI and Upper Limb Disorder
By admin on Nov 21, 2007 in Uncategorized
Children at Risk from Upper Limb Disorders
There is increasing concern about the adverse effects on children from excessive computer, texting and mobile telephone use. But this concern is largely limited to the social and psychological effects and not to the physical damage which can be inflicted on the soft tissues of a child’s hands and forearms. Even the reports of the Royal Ergonomic Society and other authoritative organisations make no reference to possible physical damage in the upper limbs from mobile telephone and computer use by children.
Nor does the government appear to be worried about any such ill effects and, having already spent £2½ billion in providing computers to schools, is to increase this by a further £1.5 billion.
One explanation for this lack of concern is that computer, mobile telephone and other hand held devices used by children are a fairly recent phenomenon. Although doctors are now seeing children as young as seven with ‘RSI’ type injuries much of the information remains anecdotal.
There is however, ample evidence from adult patients to show that repetitive keyboard use can cause upper limb disorders. How much more vulnerable therefore, must be the rapidly developing muscles, tendons, nerves and joints of a child’s hands and arms?
The long term effects on a child’s brain from excessive mobile telephone use is seen as a legitimate cause for concern – and so too should be the effects on a child’s hands from excessive texting, gaming or computer use.
Dr Paul MacLoughlin
W1G 9PF
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