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Dr Kerryn Phelps, Health Editor, with Steve Leibmann, Channel Nine, 'Today'

LEIBMANN: Well, parents who are worried about how much time their children spend in front of the computer, have some good reasons to become concerned, because there's more research that shows that the prolonged use of computers and, indeed computer games, can lead to all sorts of problems. Joining us to talk about those problems, and how you can minimise them, our Health Editor, Dr Kerryn Phelps. Morning to you.

PHELPS: Good morning, Steve.

LEIBMANN: Now, look I'm reading a comment here that says we're on the threshhold of what could be a global disaster. Is that fairdinkim, or is it a little bit of an exaggeration?

PHELPS: I think there are a lot of people very concerned about the possible effects, as you said, of prolonged use of computers. Now, we all know that computers are a part of life. Everyday in the office, people are using computers, sometimes for their whole working day. But, if you are looking at children, and their developing bones, and muscles, their developing bodies, we don't yet know exactly what effect that will have on them as they grow, but the signs are there that there might be some health concerns.

LEIBMANN: But, when they talk about the signs, there is talk of symptoms, one would normally link, in some cases with industrial injury.

PHELPS: Well, that's right. I mean, there is some interesting names that are coming out of the literature. There is a 'joy stick digit', which is an interesting one, which is pain in the finger from using the little toggles on the joystick. There is 'mouse hand' where people are getting like an RSI type of pain…

LEIBMANN: I'll tell you something, I've had that.

PHELPS: It's not uncommon, and interestingly, a lot of people just sort of put up with the aches and pains. A lot of physiotherapists I'm talking to are saying that they are getting people coming in with strain around the neck, and the back. And there are things that you can do to help that. I mean, I think with children one of the main things is to limit the amount of activity that they have at the computer.

LEIBMANN: Yes.

PHELPS: And to say, 'Okay, time's up, we have a couple of days where we don't have computers, or computer games during the week'. And also for reducing health problems related to computers, I think, limiting the time spent, getting up and moving around, every 20 to 30 minutes…

LEIBMANN: Just stretching a bit…

PHELPS: Yes.

LEIBMANN: Flexing your fingers and your wrists and everything…

PHELPS: That's right. Running through a range of stretches. Now, arrangement of the monitor and the mouse, and the keyboard so that it is ergonomically sound. By that, it means a lot of people are using laptops as their regular computers these days, and with a laptop, you've got the keyboard right in front of you, and you've got the monitor directly behind the keyboard. So unless you've got those two things separated, it's very hard to use that for prolonged use, because then your going to get the strain of the neck as you are looking down at the monitor, and your arms can be to close to your body for that use. The main thing is to have the monitor, at arms length away from you, preferably at eye level, that often means you are going to have to separate, quite often, the keyboard from the monitor, and have your elbows at right angles.

LEIBMANN: That's right, someone told me that, 90 degrees.

PHELPS: So, if your arms are up like this, or if they are down like that, then you're going to be getting problems.

LEIBMANN: We can't see you at the moment, but we know what you are talking about. I mean, it really is this posture thing is something you've really got to think about and police with the littlies, isn't it?

PHELPS: Look, it is very, very important. I think also learning how to use the computer, for example stretching your hands, stretching the fingers, having something some method shoulder stretches, getting up regularly, but also to be mindful that if children are spending a lot of time sitting at the computer, that they are not going to be doing other physical activities, like playing outside, kicking a ball around, climbing trees, and these are all things that are important for a child to develop their body. The other concern that has been raised is about childrens eyesight, and we are seeing, for some reason, an increase in short sightedness in children, and it is thought to be related to the amount of time that they are spending on close work, like computers.

LIEBMANN: So, I guess really, I mean at the end of the day we are talking about proper parental supervision.

PHELPS: As with everything. But I think when you are looking at a trends, like the amount of computer use, then I think we do need firstly, the research to know exactly what is going on and, secondly, to be really thinking about what your kids are doing. And also, when your looking at schools for example, you've got 'one size fits all' quite often in schools, and rather than having chairs that adjust for height, you've got the same equipment for 5 year olds to12 years olds. That's something that also need to be looked at.

LEIBMANN: You can also get, I know our IT editor, Mega, has often mentioned the aids, that a lot are expensive I mean, like the little foam spongy pad, to rest your hand on, if you are going to be constantly using a mouse or keyboard, or things like that.

PHELPS: Well, that's true, because you can get things like Carpel Tunnel, you can get like a tennis elbow type of problem, and RSI in the tendons of your hands. So you can have a soft rest, a soft mouse pad, if you like, and a mouse that is the right size for your hand too, that's important. So, little hands, little mouse, bigger hands, bigger mouse.

LEIBMANN: Good on you, nice to see you. See you next week.

Ends

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