Ways to Avoid BlackBerry Thumb

Regarding “Using a BlackBerry Can Prove to Be a Major Pain in the Thumbs” (Oct. 22):

I dispute Dr. Szabo’s suggestion that a device such as this does not cause injuries. The design of the BlackBerry promotes use of the thumbs and fingers in awkward postures, particularly for users with larger hands.

Combine repetitive typing with the awkward posture and you’ve got a significant amount of strain being placed on the thumb. This combination of risk factors can contribute to a repetitive strain injury.

Here are some suggestions for its users:

* Hold the gadget in one hand and type with the fingers of the other.

* Develop a shorthand language to limit the number of key presses when e-mailing.

* Use minimal force when typing.

* Avoid inefficient “back and forth” e-mails and make a telephone call instead, and try to mix e-mails with phone calls.

* Get trained on how to use the device efficiently.

* Take frequent, short breaks.

* Save long e-mails for a PC.

David Brandenburg

Ergonomist

UCLA Office of Environment, Health and Safety

Westwood