[OTlist] I felt the AOTA should have been offering this advice...NOT the APTA !!

[Charles Sullivan]

Hi and Happy New Year: 

I graduated from an OTA program in FL in 2001 and worked in FL for several 
years. That is how I got on your otlist. I had to move north and now reside 
outside Detroit, Michigan. I have been working as a COTA/L in a SNF and enjoy 
my work here since.

I wanted to share this front page article in the "LIFE" section that I read in 
the Detroit Free Press this past Friday. 

I felt the AOTA should have been offering this advice...NOT the APTA !!

Sincerely and a concerned COTA,

B Sullivan

____________________________________________________________________________

Detroit Free Press
Friday, December 29, 2006
Features Dept/ LIFE “C” section
WHAT”S GOING ON

Play video games safely

  For those children who got new video games and systems this Christmas, 
parents need to make sure their youngsters don’t suffer hand and thumb injuries 
caused by overuse of those games, the American Physical Therapy Association 
(APTA) says.
  Constant stress on tendons, nerves and ligaments in children’s hands and arms 
can cause long-term problems such as tendonitis, bursitis and carpal tunnel 
syndrome, says Cindy Miles, owner of a pediatrics physical therapy practice in 
Whitehall, PA.
  Symptoms of repetitive stress injuries caused by overuse of video games 
include fatigue, loss of strength, burning and tingling.

The APTA offers the following advice:

Keep wrists straight. Don’t let them bend downward when holding a game 
controller.

Practice good posture while playing. Sit in a chair that provides solid back 
support and keep your feet comfortably on the floor.

Stretch and move. Get up and stretch about every 20 minutes to give your head, 
neck and 
shoulder muscles a break.

Watch for warning signs such as headaches, muscle pain or cramping. If you 
notice these signs, take a break.
-HealthDay




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