Mueller Sports Medicine Introduces Text Tape™ & Tip Sheet To Help Protect The Text-Worn Index and Thumb
Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin (PRWEB) April 01, 2016 -- The mobile phone has dramatically and irreversibly altered how society functions. Apps and texting have made lives richer and more fulfilling. Family and friends, work or play are literally at one's fingertips 24/7.
Unfortunately, the convenience offered by mobile phones comes at a price — Text-Worn Index and Thumb (TWIT). TWIT is a repetitive stress injury resulting from prolonged tapping, scrolling, and texting on a mobile device. It affects not only the index finger and thumb, but also the wrist.
These types of repetitive stress injuries are not limited to adults, either. Doctors are diagnosing more and more children with repetitive stress injuries related to their use of computers, mobile phones and gaming devices. Younger children are even more vulnerable to injury due to the fact they strain their fingers just to use keyboards and buttons designed for adults.
According to Dr. Hans Mutumbo, a Sports Medicine doctor with the Institute for Electronic Health and Safety, "The hours of enjoyment these children experience from using their mobile devices and games is hardly worth the adult-type injuries they are inflicting upon themselves."
Dr. Mutumbo recommends that adults limit the time children spend with an electronic device to five minutes at a time for a total of not more than 30 minutes per day.
He also recommends that adults set a good example (and help prevent their own repetitive stress injuries) by limiting use of mobile devices to two hours per day in ten minute increments. Texts should be limited to 60-65 characters and no more than two texts per hour. If the hand starts to hurt while texting, Dr. Mutumbo suggests to stop and call that person instead. Don't resume texting until the ear begins to hurt or goes numb.
Ergonomic Times recommends the following exercises to help strengthen thumbs and fingers:
- Tap thumb against each finger of the same hand. Repeat 5 times.
- Grab thumb with other hand and give it a firm tug. Repeat 5 times or until the thumb feels like it's coming loose.
- Make Pat-A-Cake like motions, alternating with the palm and back of the hand. It's very important that to keep accurate timing with the song.
- Stretch a rubber band around both thumbs and try to break it. Wear safety glasses.
- Shake interlocked hands over head and again at ankle level. Repeat each step 3 times. While doing this exercise, feel the benefits of a proactive approach to thumb and forefinger health.
If after a week of doing these exercises pain persists, try using an ice pack on the hand and wrist. Wrap the ice pack in a thin cloth or paper towel and use it for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. A bag of frozen peas works well as a substitute ice bag, if necessary.
Of course, please put the phone down while doing these exercises. It's a small price to pay for the security of knowing that the best has been done to protect the most valuable texting instrument!
Now, there is some good news on the texting horizon. A new kinesiology taping product can help prevent TWIT. It's called Text Tape™ and it was developed by the experts at Mueller Sports Medicine as a way to prevent foolish mobile phone injuries. Contact us for more information.
Brian Koons, Mueller Sports Medicine, http://www.muellersportsmed.com/index.php, +1 (608) 643-8530 Ext: 250, [email protected]
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