Okay, I’m probably one of the few professionals in the business world who does not own a BlackBerry. I admit it. But my husband does. And when he first started trying to program it, it was like watching a four-year-old trying to play the game, Operation. His motor skills weren’t developed at the time to properly type in cohesive sentences by correctly pressing his finger pads on miniscule buttons. I tried it too. I felt like I was learning how to perform brain surgery. And now we hear about all the side-effects that can come along with using a BlackBerry, or a Crackberry, as it’s sometimes called. I’ve read about users experiencing headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome and even tendonitis, due to using this gadget so much. Doctors have even coined a new phrase describing the symptoms as “BlackBerry Thumb.” So for all you BlackBerry users out there who are desperately writing your e-mails and text messaging from a keypad smaller than a credit card, consider these health tips to avoid injuries: Take a break. If you have been using your BlackBerry keypad for 15 or 20 minutes, take a breather. Stretch your hands, fingers, and do something else to work different hand muscles and joints. Edit your messages. Even though it’s tempting to describe in great detail your needs, your directions or latest developments, keep your messages short and to the point. Save extensive messages for your laptop or computer keyboard. Stay relaxed. When you’re typing in your messages, try to keep your hands relaxed but firm. Your wrists should be upright and straight. Make sure that if your BlackBerry is resting on a surface while you type, it’s at an appropriate level so you’re not straining or slouching while you’re typing. Use different fingers. Try not to only use your thumbs for typing. Alternate fingers when you ca. If you find that your thumbs begin to ache, or your hands are cramping up, cut back on your usage. Watch out for warning signs, like increased pain, numbness or singling. If this happens, see your family doctor or orthopedic specialist. Hey, no one said it was easy to stay on top of technology. But if you take small precautions now, perhaps you’ll avoid annoying BlackBerry injuries in the future. | 
