Hobbies for Aspiring Surgeons

Introduction:

Have you ever wondered how the things you do outside of work can make you better at your work as a surgeon? Surgery is a skill that requires dexterity, steadiness, attention, and focus. These are attributes that one can hone even when outside of the opearting room. 

Some of you aspiring to become master surgeons may search for hobbies that serve as unexpected pathways to honing their surgical skills. Like Mr Han had Dre pick up and hang up the jacket in karate kid, oftentimes skills that we seem to think are completely unrelated can fasttrack us to becoming better at the end goal. 

Eating, but with Chopsticks:

Let's start with something simple yet effective: chopsticks! Have you ever tried eating your favorite cuisine with these little wooden wonders? Not only does it add a touch of cultural flair to your dining experience, but it also helps refine hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Think about it – using chopsticks requires control, balance, and gentle movements, just like when we handle our surgical instruments. So, the next time you're at a sushi joint, grab those chopsticks and challenge yourself! There’s even a surgeon who uses Q-tips to eat his food to better his surgical skills!

Crafting with Fuse Beads:

Crafting is an underrated pastime, but oh boy, can it do wonders for our dexterity. One craft that stands out is fuse bead work. Manipulating those tiny beads and arranging them into intricate designs demands a steady hand and precise movements. And no matter what you do, once you iron it you’ll always have a colorful reward! It's like performing surgery on a miniature scale. Plus, fuse bead work is a fun way to unleash your creativity and relax your mind while improving your ability to handle those delicate instruments.

Cooking and Baking: Culinary Precision

Who says hobbies can't be delicious and help your surgical skills? Cooking and baking provide the perfect opportunity to refine our dexterity skills. Measuring ingredients, finely chopping vegetables, and decorating cakes demand attention to detail and accuracy. Next time you ice a cake, focus on your movements and dexterity! These activities challenge our hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity, much like navigating through a complex surgery.

Paper Modeling and Origami:

If you're looking for a hobby that combines creativity and dexterity, look no further than paper modeling and origami. These age-old crafts involve intricate folding techniques that require nimble fingers and precise movements. By practicing these skills, we can enhance our manual dexterity, spatial awareness, and even boost our ability to visualize complex anatomical structures. With many of these crafting projects, often you have to cut complex shapes out of paper. By practicing paper cutting, we can develop better control and precision with our dominant hand, which directly translates into our surgical skills. So, grab some colorful paper, cut and fold your way to surgical finesse!

Video Games:

Believe it or not, video games can actually be beneficial for surgeons. Certain games, like puzzle or strategy games, challenge our hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and decision-making skills. The quick and precise movements required in gaming can be remarkably similar to the maneuvers we perform during surgery. So, next time you have some downtime, fire up your console or grab your mobile device and indulge in a little gaming adventure.

Playing Instruments:

When I say music and surgeons, many of you think about classical music playing in the operating room. But for a while now, surgeons have discovered a harmonious interplay between the strings and the scalpel. Playing instruments such as the violin, guitar or piano can all significantly improve hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, and motor skills. The intricate finger movements required to produce melodies can seamlessly translate into precise surgical techniques.

Puzzles and Model Building:

For some surgeons, the world of modeling and intricate building holds the blueprint to enhancing their surgical skills. From the little boy or girl building a replica model airplane to a congenital heart surgeon building the outflow tract of a ventricle, the attention to detail as well as the scrupulous precision taken when putting together parts all translate to a surgeon with the ability to convert a picture in their head or the box of a puzzle to a completed operation. 

Sewing or Knitting:

Sewing or Stitching, the thing most synonymous with suturing, threads together a unique connection to surgical finesse. The step of threading the needle in the first attempt and the creation of elegant patterns all come together building manual dexterity, tactile sensitivity, and fine motor skills, all essential for surgical success.

Drawing, painting, or even coloring:

Proportion, attention to detail, and the fine movements of the brush strokes needed to create a masterpiece, improve visuospacial awareness and you can also directly see the outcome of every little movement you make!

Mastering Non-Dominant Hand Control:

As surgeons, we rely heavily on our dominant hand, but let's not neglect our non-dominant side. One activity that can help us improve non-dominant hand control is brushing our teeth with our off hand. It may sound simple, but it can significantly enhance coordination and fine motor skills on the non-dominant side. This small yet impactful exercise can improve our overall dexterity and make us more versatile in the operating room.

Conclusion:

Exploring various hobbies as a means to improve dexterity offers an exciting avenue for venturing beyond our usual routines and gives us the opportunity to enhance our skills and discover new perspectives. Whether it's playing musical instruments, embracing artistic endeavors, building intricate models, or trying our hand at knitting and sewing, or even something as basic as putting on makeup, these hobbies can broaden our horizons and refine our dexterity. Integrating these activities with our existing skills showcases our adaptability and highlights our commitment to continuous improvement. So, let's embrace the world of hobbies and unlock the potential they hold to enhance our dexterity while bringing joy into our lives.

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Ayush Balaji is a medical student interested in cardiothoracic surgery.

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The opinions expressed in the article is not affiliated with any institution, company or product. The article should not be interpreted as medical advice.