iPod Thumbs down for iPod ailment
TENNIS players have their elbows, housemaids have their knees and athletes have their feet. Now users of the world's most popular digital music player may have their own affliction - iPod thumb.
The condition is reportedly caused by the repetitive hand movements required when listeners use a wheel device on the player to navigate through lists of songs and artists.
Music fans may enjoy the ability to spool through 10,000 songs on their iPods, but medical experts warn that jumping from tune to tune has its risks.
Carl Irwin, from the British Chiropractic Association, said: "This is a really serious problem. The action needed to move the wheel on an iPod is totally unnatural and effectively separates the joint in the thumb every time you use it.
"This causes inflammation in the thumb or fingers and can be very painful. We have also seen cases of iPod users where the problem has spread to their elbow and neck."
Mr Irwin said he expected to see a rise over the next six months of patients complaining of symptoms typical of repetitive stress injury (RSI). Children using their players for extended periods could be storing up problems for adulthood as their joints were still growing, he added.
Apple, the maker of the iPod, has refused to comment on the warning. The company also faces pressure from American health experts who share the same concern over potential RSI risks.
Donna Stanton, of the US Society of Hand Therapists, said: "Hand-held electronics may require prolonged grips, repetitive motion on small buttons and awkward wrist movements. This combination can lead to hand, wrist and arm ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. These devices are getting smaller with even more features, which encourage heavy, extended use. More of the population could suffer hand ailments unless they learn to take preventative measures."
The condition is reportedly caused by the repetitive hand movements required when listeners use a wheel device on the player to navigate through lists of songs and artists.
Music fans may enjoy the ability to spool through 10,000 songs on their iPods, but medical experts warn that jumping from tune to tune has its risks.
Carl Irwin, from the British Chiropractic Association, said: "This is a really serious problem. The action needed to move the wheel on an iPod is totally unnatural and effectively separates the joint in the thumb every time you use it.
"This causes inflammation in the thumb or fingers and can be very painful. We have also seen cases of iPod users where the problem has spread to their elbow and neck."
Mr Irwin said he expected to see a rise over the next six months of patients complaining of symptoms typical of repetitive stress injury (RSI). Children using their players for extended periods could be storing up problems for adulthood as their joints were still growing, he added.
Apple, the maker of the iPod, has refused to comment on the warning. The company also faces pressure from American health experts who share the same concern over potential RSI risks.
Donna Stanton, of the US Society of Hand Therapists, said: "Hand-held electronics may require prolonged grips, repetitive motion on small buttons and awkward wrist movements. This combination can lead to hand, wrist and arm ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. These devices are getting smaller with even more features, which encourage heavy, extended use. More of the population could suffer hand ailments unless they learn to take preventative measures."
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