Although they are not risky sports, or so they say, more and more cases of injuries due to abuse of video games or smartphones ...

When we play a game for many hours in a row we force our fingers, especially the thumb, to perform repetitive movements that can end up damaging our tendons and joints.

According to Carlos Freire, member of Saluspot and physiotherapist and osteopath in FISIOREQ , there are three very frequent pathologies that are caused by the abuse of video games. The first of these would be a hypermobility of the entire joint of the thumb, usually in the same direction of movement. In very extreme cases, the affected person may develop osteoarthritis of the finger. The 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 a 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 thickening by fibrosis of the flexor tendon sheath of the first finger as it passes through the pulley that contains it.

All of these conditions are curable: most of the time, a treatment with anti-inflammatories, rest and some sessions of physiotherapy is enough , but in the most extreme cases surgery may be necessary. That is why, 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.

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