Filed under: iPod Family, Odds and ends
"iPod thumb" afflicting an appendage near you?
Apparently, everyone's favorite little white (or black, or pink, or green..) device could be ushering in "a really serious problem" in the form of thumb-related repetitive stress injury (RSI). Carl Irwin from the British Chiropractic Association warns: "The action needed to move the wheel on an iPod is totally unnatural and effectively separates the joint in the thumb every time you use it."I found this in an article at Scotsman.com, and it goes on to warn about the impending health risks and injuries we could all succumb to as a result of consumer electronics in general, but focuses on the iPod due to its "totally unnatural" motion and the fact it's just so darn popular.
The article strikes me as both humorously over-dramatic, yet also somewhat relevant. Yes, carpal tunnel, tendinitis and RSI are serious issues and nothing to laugh at. However, I wonder if this British Chiropractic Association merely figured that slapping a "dangerous threat" label on consumer goodies like the iPod was a good way to snag their 15 seconds.
Guess I was happy to oblige.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brad said 12:13PM on 11-12-2005
And this is probably more of a reason that the 3G layout was a bit better.
I'll never be able to get used to a click wheel. The 3G layout seems so much better.
Reply
KT said 12:26PM on 11-12-2005
Yesss!! another thing to exacerbate my already horrible tendinitis from viola and violin! Huzzah!
/has a 4G waiting for her in a closet until her current 3G goes caput.
//I love you, wheel and 4-button layout
///clickwheels make me nervous!
Reply
Jonathan said 12:29PM on 11-12-2005
The problem with this argument is that most people don't sit there constantly fiddling with their iPod. They pick what they want to play and leave it alone for several tracks. Even then, they might get back to the controls only to skip a track or pause.
It's not like Nintendonitis, where the only way to use the gadget is to use the controls constantly. I chalk this article up to attention mongering!
Reply
Ian Charles said 1:10PM on 11-12-2005
heh, guess they got bored of blaming video games for hand problems then
Reply
Alex Brooks said 1:40PM on 11-12-2005
What a load of poppycock, its not like you're constantly using the wheel.
I don't see these people critiscising musical instruments that can be extremely harsh on people's hands, I suppose because these are educational it doesn't count.
Reply
jo jo the dancer said 2:05PM on 11-12-2005
pssshhh .... "unnatural"
what the hell is that supposed to mean? what thumb motions are "natural"? Is throwing a baseball, or painting a landscape, conducting a symphony, or pole vaulting "natural"? The guy's a chiropractor & the guy's an idiot.
End of story.
Reply
roger said 4:20PM on 11-12-2005
A) Chiropractors are not doctors.
B) The motion is not "totally unnatural" as I am able to make the motion without the aid of any external device or drastic surgery.
C) Last time I checked, neither of my thumbs were separated, at least not in the medical sense of the term, in that the joints both function and have not required medical intervention to be reset.
D) To sum up my comments in words the brits will understand: "Poppycock!"
Reply
ilan said 5:21PM on 11-12-2005
We shall all mutate together :)
Reply
retro said 11:20AM on 11-13-2005
Anyone who calls the iPod's control scheme unnatural has obviously never used an iPod. :P
Reply
Hater of the Apple keyboard said 1:19PM on 11-13-2005
But can we all acknowledge that Apple does make the least ergonomic keyboard in the world?
When the hell are they going to ditch that creaking, cramped, idiotically designed thing?
Reply
Zrx said 1:19PM on 11-16-2005
> I wonder if this
> was a good way to snag their 15 seconds.
I think you are right... I've found this interesting text on the site of the PR agency of the British Chiropractor (ICAS PR - London), which made the press release:
PR is vital for us to promote the British Chiropractic Association and increase patient awareness. The icas team demonstrated their creativity in generating an unprecedented amount of publicity which far exceeded our expectations."
Tim Hutchful, chiropractor and chairman of BCA marketing committee
I think this speaks for itself...
Reply