Busting Digits with BlackBerry

BlackBerry and mobile text users, take note. Health professionals are becoming increasingly concerned regarding overworking our opposable digits on a small handheld device. “BlackBerry thumb may not to be an official diagnosis, but it is a reality,” Bette Keltner, who suffers from handheld device-induced tendonitis, told CNN.

“If patients (repeatedly) flex or extend their wrists they may put undue stress on the thumbs with this motion,” explains Keith Raskin, M.D. from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the New York University Medical Center.

Ideally wrists should be in neutral position with the thumbs resting freely without stress. If patients reduce the workload the symptoms will resolve.”

Like with everything, the key here is moderation. If you’re using your thumbs too much, perhaps it’s time you started learning to type with your toes.