How To Prevent Your Kids From Suffering From RSI

Parents often recognize the words “repetitive stress injury”.  They can relate those terms to carpal tunnel syndrome and other “adult” conditions people get from work and sports.  However, parents rarely realize their children can be at just as much risk for repetitive stress injuries as the average adult. 

There are several things that can create repetitive stress injuries in children and teens. One of the most common reasons children and teens get repetitive stress injuries is because of extended computer use.  Many children are permitted to use the computer at school as well as at home.  If your child loves to use the computer, there are a few things you should do to make sure you prevent repetitive stress injury as much as possible.  The first thing you should do is limit their usage time. 

For example, you can set specific hours of the day that they can use the computer.  This works really well for older children as well as young children.  However, if you would rather be more flexible, just be sure to tell them that the “house rules” say that they can only get on the computer for an hour at a time. Then tell them they have to take a break of at least an hour or two.  This will help keep them healthy while using the computer.  Buying an ergonomic keyboard or a chair with great posture is another way to protect them from repetitive stress injury while on the computer.

Another reason many children get repetitive stress injury is because they play too many video games.  Video game controllers can be really hard on their hands, fingers, and especially their thumbs. The games are so engaging that many kids can sit and play them for hours on end.  In fact, if they have friends over to play against they may sit there for days at a time! 

As a parent you have to make sure they are not playing their video games for hours at a time.  You should limit their video game usage due to the risk repetitive stress injury.  They may not like this at first, but try reasoning with them.  Allow them to play in blocks of time. You can let them play for thirty minutes, with a thirty minute break.  Although this doesn’t seem like it would help much, it really can.  The short break can help their body readjust and not get “stressed”.  Different games will work their fingers differently.  So you might also limit them to playing a different video game each day. 

These things may seem a little unnecessary to you now, but you should know that there are children out there suffering with pain from repetitive stress injuries.  You don’t want your child to be one of them.  So, be sure that you do what you can to make them understand why it is important to take lengthy breaks from the computer and from playing video games.  Be stern and consistent with your rules and they will likely be at much less risk for developing a repetitive stress injury.