12 June, 2009
First RSI, now Mobile Phone Elbow
Causes of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Ok, well, added to Blackberry thumb and RSI from texting, we now have to watch out for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, or ‘mobile phone elbow’ (cell phone elbow in the US).
Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the ulnar nerve, which passes through the cubital tunnel (a tunnel of muscle, ligament and bone) on the inside of the elbow, becomes irritated due to injury or pressure.”
The frequent bending of the elbow, such as when using a mobile phone frequently or for extended periods of time, can cause Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. Also to blame of course, could be extended use of the desk or house phone, incorrect use of keyboard etc.
“What are the symptoms?”
Initial symptoms may be:
- Numbness, tingling and aching in the forearm
- Numbness and pain in the hand
- Weakness of the thumb
(All of which I have as I type, damn overactive mind)
“So how can I avoid Mobile Phone Elbow?”
Some good ideas particularly related to mobile phone use could be:
- Reduce length of calls (girls, I know it may seem impossible)
- Use a handsfree headset
- Use loudspeaker (of course, only if you’re not going to annoy commuters, workmates or others around you)
- Switch mobile between hands during calls
Of course, we could also practise engaging in more face-to-face communications? I know, that’s a crazy idea!
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Comments on First RSI, now Mobile Phone Elbow »
AdsBidWorld » First RSI, now Mobile Phone Elbow | Funk-eBlog.com.au @ 7:25 pm
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Cell phone elbow is also known as “cellbow” or its official name, cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS).
CuTS is a repetitive stress injury (RSI) that can result in moderate to severe pain and numbness in the elbow and ring & little fingers. Untreated, CuTS can result in extreme pain, surgery or an unusable hand.
The problem occurs where the ulnar nerve passes around the elbow. The nerve rests in a groove called the cubital tunnel tucked behind the bony point on the elbow. Repeated stretching or hitting this nerve results in numbness, shocks and pain, similar to what you feel when you hit your “funny bone.”
The ulnar nerve can be stretched and irritated by talking on a cellphone frequently or for long periods. If you cannot reduce your cell phone use, the next best solution is to buy an earpiece that allows you to talk on your phone hands-free.
If any of your readers are afflicted with cellbow, they may wish to visit our Cubital-Tunnel.com forums where they can share their experiences, ask questions and get answers about their condition.
Excellent, thanks for the thorough followup.