Protecting Your Child From CTD

If you break down the term cumulative trauma disorder, which is a painful affliction of the upper extremities, you begin to realize exactly what is at stake. Cumulative means over time. Minutes, hours, weeks, and years of repetitive movements injure soft tissue. The Occupational Health and Safety Board refers to this type of injury as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The Bureau Of Labor Statistics lists one type, carpal tunnel syndrome, as being responsible on average for more days away from work than any other injury. This type of injury is extremely difficult and time consuming to heal--it can even lead to handicap.

What has this to do with your child? Think about him for one moment. Does your child spend hours each day playing computer games? Study his movements as he plays. Notice whether he fires a button repeatedly with one digit (if he uses a home computer, the digit most frequently used would be his index finger; if playing Sony Play Station type games, he may use his thumb) and whether he sits tensely with neck craned forward. These types of behaviors will eventually lead to CTD, sometimes referred to as repetitive stress injury. Whatever the term, it is as debilitating as any physical handicap, but without the benefit of visual clues such as casts, wheelchairs, or crutches it can be more difficult to understand.

Because CTD is a soft tissue injury, it can be very difficult to recognize in someone other than yourself. As a parent, you may not be able to ascertain whether your child suffers from CTD, unless he complains of pain, but you can take steps to ensure he prevents getting it.

Education is the first step in prevention. Firstly, RSI is a catch-all phrase for the symptoms of affliction in the upper body. Most times, symptoms are centered in the arms or hands, but they can also be present in the shoulders or neck. It's important to recognize warning signs of injury. Occasionally ask your child whether his fingers or wrists feel tired. Notice whether he begins to drop things frequently or whether he begins to rub the palms of his hands. Ask if any part of his arm or hand feels tingly. If he complains of pain, immediately stop his use of the computer (or game). Have him checked over by the doctor if any of these symptoms are present or persist.

Your child may not show any of these signs, and if not, then take steps to prevent symptoms from appearing. Limit your child's use of his computer game. Don't let him sit tensely for an hour firing one button over and over. Encourage him to stretch his fingers after about 20 minutes of play. If this is difficult, try to remember to bring him a glass of water or a snack. Hopefully, this will divert his attention long enough to change position and rest the muscles for a few moments while he drinks or puts his hand into the bowl. Remember, the key is to get him to alter activity.

If your child is old enough to understand, explain that injury can occur from overdoing it. You don't have to go into the finite details, but if he realizes that stretching and rest periods are important to continue playing in the long-term, he may take the initiative to do them himself.

Important for you, or anyone suffering from CTD, is to arm yourself with as much information as possible. Visit the web or have someone visit for you. A search done on terms such as, RSI, CTD, OOS, or MSD should provide more than enough information to drive home the point that it is a serious affliction. There are newsgroups moderated by physicians specializing in CTD, and there are newsgroups that exist solely for support.

Since cumulative trauma disorder occurs over the long term, it is important that you monitor your child's activity during computer play or any activity that requires repetitive movement. Don't assume CTD is a benign illness. It is something that can impair his future in an ever-growing technological world. More importantly, encourage healthy eating and healthy playing. Your child's future health can depend upon his activities now.