It is clear that children today are exposed to risks unknown to us a generation ago.
It all started with the uncontrollable attraction of television when human beings were transformed into couch potatoes resulting in unhealthy living habits and leading eventually to overweight, diabetes and associated complications.
Over the last decade or so, the world has been transformed by the widespread availability of electronic gadgets, which every child nowadays seem to be able to afford.
With mobile phones, iPads, iPods and other irresistible gadgets, texting or playing a wide variety of games, children are encouraged to spend long hours in self-isolation, indulging in repetitive finger exercises over long hours with neglect of sport or even exposure to outside air and a dollop of sunshine.
If this was all, one could perhaps accept the situation, but there is no doubt that these habits lead to chronic damage to the body. Young children of no more than 10 years of age are presenting symptoms of repetitive strain injury (RSI), resulting from overuse and abuse of joints in the hand.
In medical terminology, these include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, ganglion cysts, ‘tennis elbow’, as well as pressure on nerves in the neck that can lead to pain and swelling of hands. All these are the result of continuous use of gadgets for hours, often curled up in less than ergonomically acceptable positions.
It is just as well that the Lamarckian theory of evolution has been debunked, otherwise we would be encouraging the evolution of a race of human beings with excessively long, thin fingers and atrophied muscle if not brain tissue.
Parents afflicted with such addicted children need to strive to moderate the number of hours spent locked up with electronic devices. Reduction in the number of hours in front of a television or computer with encouragement of old-fashioned hobbies like playing outside and socialising with friends would be the first on the agenda.
Young children of no more than 10 years of age are presenting symptoms of repetitive strain injury
Parents and children should be made aware of premonitory symptoms, particularly the presence of a tingling sensation in the wrist and fingers. These are particularly likely in those using electronic gadgets for long periods sitting in an uncomfortable position. Video games using joysticks, as well as the use of the mouse for games on computer (rather than direct touch techniques) are particularly likely to cause RSI.
Other simple commonsense measures would include sitting up straight, with relaxed shoulders on comfortable chairs adjusted for the height of the child. A light touch rather than banging on the keyboard could also help. It is to be emphasised that unrecognised and ignored RSI symptoms can lead to long-term damage, which makes it difficult or impossible to use a computer later on in life. RSI-related injuries have become a very important cause of work-related injuries in adults in the developed world. It is crucial to prevent such a possibility.
It might be argued that the discovery of fire and the use of metals for the production of sharp implements were greeted by our forebears with an equal degree of dismay and concern.
However, we must be aware of developments which are so enticing and addictive to children and which could predispose to long-term disability.