Controller for the PlayStation 3

If you’re debating on which video game console system is right to you, this news item from Reuters may help sway your vote. Swiss scientists have identified a new condition called “PlayStation palmar hidradentitis.” The main symptoms are painful lumps that form on the skin of the palms of PlayStation players.

The cause of the lumps? Gripping the controller tightly while pressing buttons in a repetitive fashion for hours at a time. The repetitive motions coupled with the tight grip causes minor but persistent trauma to the skin.

The news report cites a case involving a 12-year-old girl who went to a Geneva hospital with sores on her hands. Doctors theorized that recent excessive PlayStation gaming may have caused the condition. The doctors suggested the girl stop playing for a while and after 10 days she made a full recovery.

I have to point out that it doesn’t look like gaming-related medical problems are unique to PlayStation fans. Previous reports linked cases of tendonitis to excessive use of the Nintendo Wii. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that using any controller for prolonged periods of uninterrupted play could result in a similar set of symptoms, particularly if the player tends to have sweaty hands. Back in my Atari 2600 days I would sometimes develop a callous-like bump between my left thumb and forefinger. I also developed a healthy fear of robots courtesy of the game Berzerk.

The moral of the story is don’t play video games all day long. And dry your hands!

Curious about video game consoles? Take a look at these articles on HowStuffWorks.com.

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