Page 8 California Employer Update
“BlackBerry Thumb is
really just a catchy word
BlackBerry Thumb
for something that Emerging work-related ailment or new to describe soreness in the thumb after a few hours of
name for an old problem? playing Nintendo. Like Nintendonitis, BlackBerry
occupational medical By Marsinah Trujillo, contributing writer Thumb describes physical symptoms associated with
doctors have long been a repetitive stress injury (RSI). The link between RSI
BlackBerry Thumb generated quite a media buzz and BlackBerry surfaced when a consumer agency,
dealing with: repetitive over the last few years. The condition causes the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT),
stress injury (RSI). concern in some employers about its potentially issued a warning about the device.
adverse impact on employee health and productiv-
We see it a lot when ity and whether they could face liability or workers’ The ASHT issued an alert that stated, “heavy uses of
people’s work requires compensation claims related to the injury. electronic devices, such as BlackBerry, iPod, could
lead to hand ailments.” The organization stated that
the prolonged use of Given that BlackBerry Thumb is a musculoskeletal “handheld electronics may require prolonged grips,
specific muscle groups.” disorder (MSD) and that 30 percent of all 2006 in- repetitive motion on small buttons and awkward
juries/illnesses requiring days away from work were wrist movement … leading to hand, wrist and arm
— Dr. Peter Greaney, due to MSDs, according to the U.S. Department of ailments such as carpel tunnel syndrome and tendon-
president, WorkCare Labor, that concern is understandable. Yet employ- itis.”
ers should not become overly alarmed. This type of
repetitive strain injury is common in the workplace Other experts, including some physicians, support
and can be prevented and treated by adopting com- this consumer alert, saying that too much “thumb-
mon-sense workplace preventive health principles, ing” can cause injuries, especially to those people
such as creating workplace policies on the use of with underlying conditions, such as arthritis, that
the device and educating employees on risk factors, repetitive motion can aggravate.
symptoms, prevention, and treatment.
Causes of Repetitive Stress Injury
Though the California Department of Industrial A board-certified occupational health physician
Relations stated that in 2006 workplace injuries explained just what BlackBerry Thumb means.
and accidents declined in all industries (except for
four) compared to 2005, the service sector contin- “BlackBerry Thumb is really just a catchy word for
ues to be an industry where injuries are on the rise. something that occupational medical doctors have
In this sector, professional and business services long been dealing with: repetitive stress injury (RSI).
account for 2.27 million workers in California, We see it a lot when people’s work requires the pro-
representing a significant market in which wireless longed use of specific muscle groups,” said Dr. Peter
handheld devices are used. Overall, more than Greaney, president of WorkCare, a company provid-
eight million people subscribe to the BlackBerry ing integrated health services to employers.
service, according to Research in Motion, the
maker of the product. He explained that RSI is a musculoskeletal disorder
that damages tissue because of repetitive demands,
With the explosion of these devices in the market- instead of a single traumatic event. These injuries
place — and the increasing rate that employees use result in physical symptoms when the tissue damage
them — companies need to understand what they is sufficient, causing pain and dysfunction. Carpal
can do to prevent work-related injuries. Tunnel Syndrome is an example of an RSI.
Internet Hoax or Bona Dr. Greaney explained that the human body can
Fide Medical Condition? withstand a finite amount of use. Overuse injuries,
Though the Internet offers a wealth of general such as RSI, occur because of insufficient recovery
information on BlackBerry Thumb, scientific stud- time between demands, such as frequent use of the
ies and evidence-based health guidelines on the thumb on a PDA or BlackBerry.
treatment and prevention of BlackBerry Thumb are
scant at best because no such disorder officially ex- “These types of injuries occur when mechanical
ists in the annals of medicine. All recognized health fatigue in tendons and ligaments cause small tears in
disorders in the medical system have a diagnostic the connective tissue,” he noted. “This condition is
code, and there is no such associated code for worsened by the fact that the connective tissue has
BlackBerry Thumb. not repaired itself, yet continues to be placed under
stress. The cumulative effect of stress on the region
BlackBerry Thumb’s origin mirrors “Nintendon- causes the mechanical or chemical activation of pain
itis,” a term coined in the 1980s by the game maker receptors, resulting in pain and dysfunction.”
January 2008 Page 9 What Employers
Should Do:
Symptoms of RSI include recurring pain or sore- typing the same e-mails all the time, considering
ness in the affected area; tingling, numbness, cold- using Autotext, a feature on your device that will Exercise Reduces
ness or loss of sensation in the affected area; and automatically change common spelling mistakes Risk of Injury
loss of grip strength, weakness or fatigue. and also allow for shortcut words.
y Use a neutral grip when holding the device. A The American Society of Hand
Risk Factors neutral grip happens when the wrist is straight, Therapists (ASHT) recommends
Most occupational health physicians affirm the not bent in either direction. This method will performing the following exer-
theory that the onset of MSD pain may be affected provide a greater range of motion for the wrist. cises:
by variables such as psychosocial factors, including y Consider purchasing a folding, wireless keyboard 9 Fold your hands together and
work satisfaction, as well as the capacity to cope to avoid typing on the small device. turn your palms away from
with pain in the area of the body afflicted by RSI. your body. Extend your arms
People express pain uniquely. A person’s inability to Treatment overhead. You should feel the
cope with pain due to psychosocial aspects of the The goals of tendonitis treatment are to relieve pain stretch in your upper torso
work environment may result in mundane discom- and reduce inflammation. Often home treatment, and shoulders to hand. Hold
fort shifting into a disabling injury. which includes rest, ice and over-the-counter pain for 10 seconds and repeat
relievers, is all that a person needs. eight times.
A study by the American Journal of Public Health,
which examined a sample of workers from diverse If the condition persists, consultation with a physi- 9 Place your hand just above
occupations and backgrounds, showed that people cian may be necessary to determine the severity of the back of the elbow and
who experienced work-related physical exertion, the injury. gently push your elbow
and psychological stress, (hectic work and conflict- across your chest toward the
ing demands) had a greater proportion of job- Medical principles generally recommend following opposite shoulder, stretching
related RSIs than those who did not. Demographic advanced treatment options only after other less the upper back and shoulder.
variables, such as gender and higher education, complex treatments are considered. In some cases Stretch both the right and left
were also shown to be greater predictors of work- advanced treatment option may be appropriate to arms. Hold for 10 seconds
related RSIs. consider. and repeat eight times. Visit
ASHT for more tips.
This study, as well as others, demonstrates that cer- Advanced Treatment Options
tain overuse injuries (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome) Corticosteroid injections. Sometimes your doctor Any combination of the follow-
vary in frequency between males and females, with may inject a corticosteroid medication around a ing factors can lead to repetitive
females at an increased risk for RSIs. This variation tendon to relieve tendonitis. Injections of cortisone stress injury:
may be related to differences in activities performed reduce inflammation and can help ease pain. How- 9 Repetition: The repetition
by men and women, differences in connective tissue ever, there are potential side effects. For example, of small, rapid movements,
tolerances that relate to hormonal factors and pos- repeated injections may weaken a tendon, increasing such as using a keyboard or
sibly psychosocial differences. (See “What Employ- your risk of rupturing the tendon. Also, corticoster- mouse, for long concentrated
ers Should Do” for more information about the oid medications should never be directly injected hours.
causes of RSIs and a few simple exercises to reduce into the tendon itself because this can contribute to
the rick of injury.) tendon rupture. 9 Static posture: Holding the
same position, especially an
Preventing BlackBerry Thumb Strengthening exercises and physical therapy. People uncomfortable or awkward
Since repetition is a primary factor contributing with tendonitis and tendonosis may also benefit posture, for a long period of
to RSI, reducing the prolonged use of such devices from a program of specific exercise designed to time.
and/or altering the way they get used can help strengthen the force-absorbing capability of the
prevent these types of injuries. Employees should muscle-tendon unit. 9 Improper workstation setup: A
consider the following tips to prevent BlackBerry workstation (table, chair) that
Thumb: Surgery. Depending on the degree and type of ten- cannot be adjusted to position
y Switch to a smaller BlackBerry. Over extending don tear, you may benefit from a surgical procedure you properly and comfortably
the thumb represents one of the main causes of that can improve tendon health. Damaged tendons at your computer or other
BlackBerry Thumb, especially true in the bulkier can be removed to promote the formation of more work activity.
devices like the 7520. To prevent over extension, healthy tissue. In select individuals, surgeons can
consider switching to a smaller device. repair full-thickness tendon tears to reduce pain and 9 Force: Using excessive force
y Use shortcuts. Shortcuts not only help you restore function. to complete tasks.
quickly get things done but also reduce the need
to scroll. You can find these shortcuts by referring BlackBerry Thumb is a preventable and treatable 9 Insufficient rest time:
to your BlackBerry manual. condition. Employers can stay ahead of curve by Intensive hours of working
y Don’t answer all e-mails from your BlackBerry. educating employees and creating workplace policies with too few rest breaks to
If you can, leave the non-urgent e-mails to when regarding the use of wireless handheld devices to allow your body to recover
you get back to your computer. avoid work-related claims and keep workers injury- from an activity.
y Use the AutoText feature. If you find yourself free. o