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MEDICAL
NEWS—INCREASED INSTANCES OF CR Meanwhile, another researcher, Dr. Rosa Coppi, was completely unaware of Dr. Pinarello’s research. But her study seems to confirm in a different way the research of Dr. Pinarello. She has been studying the behavior of rollerbladers, joggers and walkers using bike paths. She observed increasing instances of CR. But in the case of rollerbladers, joggers and walkers, it was not brought on by having their hands too busy. It was brought on by wearing headphones. She found that very few rollerbladers, joggers or walkers who did not wear headphones exhibited symptoms of CR. But there was a drastic increase of instances of CR among those who did. Dr. Coppi also discovered a correlation between the volume played through the headphones, and the degree of CR inflammation; the greater the volume, the greater the CR inflammation. Upon hearing of Dr. Coppi’s study, Dr. Roubaix offered confirming anecdotal evidence. He observed cyclists on bike paths approaching rollerbladers, joggers or walkers from behind. When approaching from behind those not wearing headphones, a simple “on your left” was adequate to warn them of the approach of the cyclist and make a move to the right. But when approaching those wearing headphones, the cyclists seemed to be singing a rock anthem: “on your left, on your LEFT, ON YOUR LEFT!” Similarly, those rollerbladers, joggers and walkers afflicted with CR are oblivious to their condition. As a result, when the cyclist finally screams at close range, the CR afflicted nearly jump out of the way, or seem to be having a heart attack, or exhibit the look of “why didn’t you tell me sooner?” None of the researchers have proposed remedies or treatments for those afflicted with CR. Local law enforcement agencies and some citizen groups have proposed some solutions. But it needs to be pointed out that what they propose is not for those afflicted with CR, but for those (like the cyclists mentioned above) who have to suffer from those afflicted. Their solutions have ranged from “cyclists don’t belong on the road” to “there should be 10 mph speed limits on bike paths.” Upon hearing such solutions as those, Dr. Roubaix speculated that these solutions are proposed by people afflicted with CR. Page | 1 | 2 | Last Updated 03/19/08 |
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