Painful Christmas gadgets under the tree?

Nobody wants to give pain for Christmas (well, unless you're the Grinch) but researchers and doctors say that that's exactly what might be sitting under the Christmas tree, this year more than others. High-tech games and fancy gadgets are more popular now than ever, but with them comes the risk of sore thumbs, inflamed elbows, stiff shoulders...and the list goes on.

Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) used to be fairly uncommon, affecting only people who had reason to perform the same movements over and over -- such as heavy computer users and jackhammer operators. But now that electronics are so popular, and getting smaller and smaller everyday, RSI's are making a much bigger appearance in the mainstream population. Some popular gifts, like the Nintendo Wii, now come with health warnings suggesting users take frequent breaks and pay attention to their posture while playing.

Good news is that RSI's are easy to avoid -- simply pay attention to your body and take a break if you start to feel tense or strained. Moderation (yep, that one again!), stretching, and proper posture are the keys for keeping those gadgets fun, and not painful!