Games strain on children

Repetitive strain injury affects the joints

A doctor has warned about the danger of computer games after treating a young boy for repetitive strain injury.

In an article for the Scottish Medical Journal, Dr Diana Macgregor said she believed the case was the first of its kind.

She recalled seeing the 11-year-old boy at the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital last year.

He arrived complaining of pain in his forearm and elbow only days after being given a computer games console for Christmas.

After a series of tests he was diagnosed with repetitive strain injury and ordered to avoid using the games machine for one week.

Children will be using computers all their lives and must be taught how to use them safely and avoid problems

Bunny Martin, Body Action Campaign

On following the advice the symptoms rapidly subsided and have not recurred since.

The young boy is now using the games system again but for much shorter periods.

Dr Macgregor said the huge popularity of computer games meant the problem could be much more widespread.

"With escalating use of computers in the UK, the potential magnitude of the RSI problem indicates a need for increased attention to prevention and treatment," she said.

"We believe this may be the first reported case of computer induced RSI in a child and suggest that children and their parents should be made aware of the possible short and long term effects of this condition."

National campaign

Dr Macgregor also suggested "hand care" instruction should be issued with the games consoles and taught to children in schools.

This view was backed by the charity Body Action Campaign, which has launched a national campaign to combat "Nintendo thumb".

Founder, Bunny Martin, said: "I have seen everything from Nintendo thumb to pains in the shoulders and swollen joints.

"Children will be using computers all their lives and must be taught how to use them safely and avoid problems."