I just saw a post on the CNN website that I think raises a vailid issue and that is the long term effects of technology on the younger generations…. 30 years ago computers were only just emerging so no-one knows if the control pads have an adverse effect on the hands dexterity in later life.

the article refers to an american woman’s children.

Her 13-year-old twins, James and Timothy, are avid gamers who own two Sony PlayStations, a Nintendo GameCube and a Microsoft Xbox. Physically, they’re fit however both boys can bend their thumbs all the way back to their forearms, and they constantly stretch and crack their knuckles with ease. For tasks like ringing a doorbell, dialing a phone number and changing the remote, they use their thumbs.

This may just be that they are double jointed or that the use of consoles has mentally trained their brains to make greater use of all of their digits.

Unfortunately, conclusive research on the subject of computer ergonomics for kids has been lacking. But researchers are concerned nonetheless.

“The exposure to ergonomic risk hazards for children is expected to be higher than it would be for adults because of the sheer amount of time that they’re on computers at home and at school,” said Ken Harwood, director of the practice department at the American Physical Therapy Association.

Some physical therapists and pediatricians are already citing cases of RSI in children as young as 8 years old. Kids complain of headaches, neck problems and backaches. And when pediatricians can’t identify the source, they’ll send the child to a physical therapist.

Now to be honest I’m not known for my tact and this to me seems to be an over reaction. When I was young we used to get injured from playing in the park… grazed knees etc. I don’t believe this is any different… if you spend enough time on an activity you are likely to get an injury associated with that activity.

What do you think????