When we play a video game for many hours at a time, we force our fingers, especially the thumb, to perform repetitive movements that can end up damaging our tendons and joints.
According to Carlos Freire, a member of Saluspot and a physiotherapist and osteopath at FISIOREQ, there are three very common pathologies that are caused by the abuse of video games. The first of these would be a hypermobility of the entire articular spine of the thumb, generally in the same direction of movement. In very extreme cases, the affected person could develop osteoarthritis in the finger. Tendons can also be affected by the abuse of video games, as well as smartphones and even the computer mouse: "continuous and repetitive friction can cause tendinopathy of the extensor muscles of the 1st finger, also called Quervain's tenosynovitis " , the expert tells us. A possible third pathology would be the presence of a “spring finger”, which is due to a thickening due to fibrosis of the flexor tendon sheath of the first finger as it passes through the pulley that contains it.
All these conditions have a cure: most of the time a treatment with anti-inflammatories, rest and some physiotherapy sessions is enough , but in the most extreme cases surgery may be necessary. Therefore, as always, the most important thing is prevention: do not abuse video games and, if you are very hooked, try to at least give yourself a break every hour. Your joints will thank you.
