How Smart Phones, Musical Instruments, and Gaming Impact

Cumulative Trauma

Mary Alice Lawson, OTS

“I do, therefore I am”

2015 Vision in Action Conference

OBJECTIVES:

• Understand physiological impact of leisure activities such as gaming, and cell phone use on the mechanics of the upper extremity

• Identify the role of occupational therapy as it pertains to prevention of cumulative trauma associated with leisure activities.– To address the “What, Why, and How”

• Acknowledge the effectiveness and importance of education in the prevention and treatment of CTDs.

“The WHAT?” Cumulative Trauma:

• Defined as: A disorder that can affect bones, muscles, tendons, nerves and other anatomical features. It develops when micro traumas, or minute injuries, occur repeatedly from over use or misappropriate use of a body part or external force applied to the body

“The WHO?” The People at Risk:

The People at Risk:

Nicknames of Injuries:• Text neck • Wii-itis or

Nintendonitis• Text claw, Text

Thumb, Blackberry thumb, and gamers thumbs

• Mouse Shoulder• Musicians Dystonia• Drummer’s Wrist

“Nintendonitis” or “Wii-itis”

“The Why?” Why Address this?

Shoulder Rolls

“The How?” Evidence-Based Practice: What does the literature tell us?

• Education is effective!!!– (Marcoux B., Krause V., & Nieuwenhuijsen E. (2000).)

• Cell phones & Gaming: Velocity, duration of time spent on a device, number of pauses, time spent playing games, and how the phone is used (talking texting).– (Eapen C., Bhaskaranand K. & Bhat A. (2010).)

• Musicians: Weight of instrument, duration of playing, number of breaks and cigarettes smoked per day – (Kayfman-Cohen Y., & Ratzon N. Z. (2011).)

Conclusion:How should occupational therapy move forward?

• Educate Clients

• OT is in a unique position to address this issue

WHAT QUESTIONS DO

YOU HAVE?