MAN'S RUPTURED TENDON BLAMED ON CANDY CRUSH

A 29-year-old California man with too much time on his hands required medical attention after finally realizing his favourite pastime was taking a toll on one of his tendons.

The former sailor told doctors he had been playing Candy Crush Saga on his phone all day — every day — for two months straight while he was “between jobs.” According to the case study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine in 2015, the excessive activity eventually caused the tendon in his left thumb to rupture. He was too busy crushing colourful pieces of sweet digital candy to notice.

“We need to be aware that certain video games can act like digital painkillers,” said Andrew Doan, co-author of the study and head of addictions research at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, according to Livescience. “We have to be very cognizant that that can be abused.”

When a tendon ruptures from overuse, it typically leaves a tear at the thinnest point or where the tendon meets the bone. In this patient's case, however, the tear took place at the thick point of the tendon, something that usually follows a period of growing discomfort. “His tendon was getting inflamed and worn down and he didn't feel pain,” Doan said. “The problem is when we play video games it can stimulate the mind and body to release natural chemicals, such as adrenalin and cortisol, Doan said. “We also believe endorphins, which are natural painkillers, are released.”

The excitement of the game, combined with these natural painkillers, produces an effect similar to a runner's high that can diminish the perception of pain, Doan said, explaining the patient reported no discomfort over the hundreds of hours he spent crushing candy.