Can Gaming Lead to Finger Deformities in Children?
As if video games didn't garner enough negative publicity about effects on young gamers, researchers now believe that the prolonged use of console controllers causes physical deformities in children's fingers. Author Mike Tomich, with an endorsement from neurologist and rheumatologist Dr. Amar Sawar, says that early gaming, especially among those under eight-years-old, damages the cartilage of growing fingers and results in disfigured digits, early appearances of arthritis and other problems. To prevent such complications, both men, in the above clip from Michigan's NBC 25 News, suggest that parents wait until their children are eight before allowing them to play video games, and that they closely monitor their time spent doing so. Or, they can try out the prescient Nintendo's awesome hands-free controller.
Judging by these recent findings, and other negative reports, the future may hold hordes of ultra-violent, sex-crazed, maniacal gamers with blistered hands and gnarled fingers. At least, though, according to these esteemed journalists, the heavy gamers will be prepared to protect the rest of us during the Apocalypse or a zombie uprising. And, as we reported earlier, they'll have eagle-eye vision, so as not to miss any critical kill shots (as long as they can grip their guns with their crooked, twisted fingers). Sounds like a pretty fair trade to us. [From: NBC 25 News Via: Joystiq]
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Comments
3
Subscribe to commentsawmApr 1st 2009 12:48AM
Ok this is an ongoing joke between my kids and I. I have teased them for years that when they are retirement age all kinds of new products will be made to accomodate their generations crippled,arthritic or otherwise damaged thumbs.(yes, their fingers may be damaged as well but I figured between gaming and texting the thumbs would be most effected).I can see the time coming when you will have a steering wheel that has a smaller connected wheel inside the reg wheel so this generation can drive with their index finger and second finfger on the outer wheel and their ring and pinkie finger on the innner wheel since their thumb will be immobile due to gaming,texting etc. Then of course their will be new pot lids designed to be grasped by 4 fingers and no thumb---you get the idea. There will be a whole new division of ergonomics design to enable this generation to continue to functioning independantly as they are older. Hopefully,the gaming industry will help accomodate these future seniors with such devices to enable them to continue gaming. I mean what else would my kids want to do in their old age-LOL LOL
AngiebabyApr 1st 2009 10:01AM
Gaming, in and of itself, does not cause problems. But children spending too much time with their hands and fingers in the same position day after day can lead to deformities in digits. Put the blame squarely where it belongs and stop trying to insinuate video gaming is responsible for someone's deformities which they cause themselves. If you want to pass on the blame for this problem, it would have to go to the parents who allow their children to spend hours and hours playing video games day after day.
SamApr 2nd 2009 11:53PM
Lets think about this for a second. Children are forced to grip pencils, objects less than 3/8 of an inch thick in their hands for, lets say, 6 hours a day. Writer's cramp anyone? As a video gamer/college student/big brother I can tell you it's just not video games that will deform their ickle little hands. It's being bent over a pile of books, pencil in hand for hours a day.
My youngest brother is 8 years old and has been playing video games since he was at least 4. I can tell you his hands are perfectly fine because of the good stretch they get with a few hours of playing Guitar Hero and some Fable. So Mr. Big-Brained Researcher, get a clue, LOOK FOR OTHER HAND DEFORMING ACTIVITIES IN THE KIDS LIFE!!!