Hazards of playing video games

“Playstation thumb” has entered the mainstream.

Those of you who have young kids or grandkids can probably guess what Playstation thumb is. It’s the irritation of one or both thumbs that comes from wiling away the hours gripping a handset while playing video games.

And there might even be a few of you who have Playstation thumb yourself. There’s no doubt it’s a growing phenomenon, because it’s now been officially recognized by a leading medical journal: The Lancet.

The Lancet item isn’t exactly a major study, or even a minor study, or even an expert analysis. In fact it’s a letter sent in by 9-year-old Hrisheekesh Jayant Vaidya who writes to say that after playing a “fast-paced fighting game on a Playstation 2 (PS2),” he developed a blister. His father took a photo of the blister, and the Lancet published the photo along with the letter.

But Hrisheekesh’s dad also laid down the law, banning PS2 until the injury healed. Happy ending: The thumb was fine in about a week and the gaming ban was lifted.

Here’s a perfect case where the treatment also provides a natural preventive regimen. In fact, it’s one that mothers the world over have been using for years: Turn off that TV and go play outside!

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute

Source:
“Playstation Thumb” The Lancet, Vol. 363, No. 9414, thelancet.com