So video games might keep children from getting the exercise they need; but at least they’re not getting injured, right? Not so fast. A recent study found that playing video games or using smartphones can increase joint pain among kids ages 9 to 15. The study was a small one, consisting of students from two St. Louis-area schools; but the results were still pretty interesting. According to researchers, kids who played video games on Gameboys or Xboxes were more likely to experience finger and/or wrist pain than those who didn’t, or who were more likely to spend their spare time with a mobile phone. Moreover, reports of pain doubled for each added hour of game play. Kids who spent quite a bit of time texting with their phones experienced some serious joint pain, too, with girls about twice as likely to report pain than boys. “Our study has shown the negative impact that playing computer games and using mobile phones can have on the joints of young children, raising concerns about the health impact of modern technology later in life,” said professor Yusuf Yazici of New York University Hospital. (Time)
![](https://www.youthworker.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/GirlTech.250w.tn_.jpg)