NBA Player Blames Elbow Injury on Larger-Screened iPhone

[MacRumors]

San Antonio Spurs player Matt Bonner recently revealed in an interview with Concord Monitor (via Yahoo) that he suffered from tennis elbow during the 2014-2015 NBA season, a condition that he theorized was caused by Apple's larger-screened iPhones and led to a lower-than-normal 3-point shot success rate.

"Everybody is going to find this hilarious, but here's my theory on how I got it," he said. "When the new iPhone came out it was way bigger than the last one, and I think because I got that new phone it was a strain to use it, you have to stretch further to hit the buttons, and I honestly think that's how I ended up developing it."

According to Bonner, his two-and-a-half months of tennis elbow made it so painful for him to shoot that he'd "almost be cringing" before catching the ball. He spoke to a Spurs strength and conditioning coach, who reported suffering from a similar injury after spending time playing a game on a larger-screened iPhone.

Tennis elbow is attributed to any activity involving the repetitive use of the muscles in the forearm, causing muscles and tendons to be damaged from excessive use and leading to pain and inflammation in the elbow. A quick Google search suggests that tennis elbow caused by iPhone is not a common condition, but a few others have complained about similar iPhone-related stress injuries over the years.

It's not entirely clear if Bonner was making a tongue-in-cheek joke when he gave the tidbit of info to the Concord Monitor, but at 6'10" tall, it's a bit difficult to believe he would have trouble using the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus or the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, even one-handed. As iMore points out, there's likely another cause for his elbow issues.

Article Link: NBA Player Blames Elbow Injury on Larger-Screened iPhone

 

[Saucesome2000]

What a little bitch.

 

[parseckadet]

You're holding it wrong.

 

[iamMacPerson]

I'm 6'5, so granted not as tall as him, however my 6 Plus hasn't caused me any bodily harm.

 

[Michael Goff]

I do hope he's joking.

 

[SMIDG3T]

Oh man up. Pathetic.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Apple needs to pay for this injustice. I will now have to go use Android so I can avoid bodily harm induced by the iPhone.

 

[AngerDanger]

At least he can use HealthKit to monitor his recovery from this terrible iPhone-induced affliction.

 

[Chuck Kostalnick]

I coulda swore Palmela Handerson hurt his lonely elbow.

 

[R1PPER]

I got tennis elbow from starcraft 2 so yep. this can happen. Its normally the straw that breaks the camels back. so no more RTS's or MOBA's for me.

 

[doppelganger]

https://twitter.com/espn_nhl/status/604503118567473154

Ryan Mcdonagh played with a broken foot. NHL.

 

[man3ster]

solution: get another phone maybe? silly players making million dollar salaries finding something to complain about.

 

[paul43]

why would he make something like this up? I'm a fan of the Spurs, have followed his whole NBA career, and I can't picture him making this up. maybe he really does feel that's what happened

 

[SpinThis!]

Then again, Bonner probably won’t mind if you laugh. In fact, he loves making people laugh. His latest comedic project...

I doubt he's serious. This guy strikes me as a prankster, he does make comedy in his spare time.

Seems like people take anything at face value these days no no matter ridiculous it sounds. Of course repetitive stress injuries are no joke but I guess in this case, Bonner wasn't "master of his iPhone domain"...

 

[WaxedJacket]

What happened to the NBA?

 

[Anonymous2k]

What happened to the NBA?

Money…. Elite-ism and a perspective of not expendable…. A far cry from the "street-ball" days….

NBA players are just example of how far humanity has fallen.

 

[Zxxv]

I don't buy it. Here's what I think happened.

Hmm, this new iPhone screen is pretty amazing. Everything looks so much bigger and clearer. I wonder what porn looks like. Oh it looks real nice.

And that's how I think he got tennis elbow.

 

[LachlanH]

Elbowgate

I'll show myself out...

 

[tennisproha]

yeah I mean my iphone caused my stiff ankle so

 

[Bubba Satori]

The NBA obviously needs lighter and thinner basketballs.

 

[avanpelt]

The NBA obviously needs lighter and thinner basketballs.

Tom Brady might be able to give them some pointers on how to accomplish that. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

[MH01]

Wow this made the news.....

 

[nostaws]

I played world of tanks blitz to excess on my mini. I had some pains in my left arm (seemed more like a nerve thing). I quit playing and they went away.

Depending on his posture, the game, and frequency played, I could see it happening.

That being said I'm not suing apple or wot.

 

[aloshka]

I think it's Obama's fault

 

[AbSoluTc]

1- I can't believe he openly admitted to this.
2- Get off your damn phone.

If you're on your phone so much you get tennis elbow, you should really re-think the priorities in your life. Perhaps using another hand, putting the phone down, getting a different phone. Nope, lets keep doing the same thing over and over. Stupidity.