‘Nintendonitis' takes toll

As the newest round of video game systems flies of the shelves and gamers fasten their hands to the controllers of their new Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3 systems, parents and cultural critics alike will once again call attention to the harmful effects of excessive gaming. But one effect may elude even their eyes.

An uncommon pitfall of playing video games for prolonged periods of time is “Nintendonitis,” a swelling of the thumb joints or other damage to the hand that results from furiously mashing buttons on the game controller. While many have bemoaned the ability of games to render eyes bloodshot, attention spans shortened and muscles softened, the condition of Nintendonitis has remained a slightly more subtle concern.

The Medical Journal of Australia, Scottish Medical Journal and the South African Medical Journal have published studies of Nintendonitis in recent years as the condition has become more prominent, particularly among children. The medical term for such a condition is a computer-related repetitive strain injury, or RSI.