Prolonged smartphone use with repetitive movements can lead to pain in the thumb and little finger, as well as joint damage in the wrist. Dr. Huynh Hoang Anh from the Department of Rehabilitation at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City warns that positions such as bending the wrist, using the little finger for support, and sliding with the thumb while using smartphones can cause bone and joint problems in the hands.
The thumb is particularly susceptible to repetitive movements, such as scrolling and texting, which can result in fatigue and tendon damage. This can manifest as pain when bending or stretching the fingers, stiffness, trigger finger, a condition where the tendon sheath becomes inflamed. Similarly, using the little finger as a support while holding a phone can strain ligaments in the hand, leading to numbness, pain, stiffness, and joint sounds when moving fingers.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can also occur from bending at an angle of more than 90 degrees while holding a phone for extended periods. This can lead to numbness, tingling, and pain in the thumb and fingers. In some cases of bone and joint damage from prolonged phone use may require surgical treatment. To prevent such issues from occurring again it’s recommended to limit continuous phone use and hold it with both hands rather than one hand only. It’s also advisable to use smaller buttons on phones rather than large ones that require a lot of force to press down on them. Additionally avoiding using smartwatch for texting will reduce strain on your fingers.
If you experience any unusual symptoms or pain while using your smartphone or after prolonged usage it’s important to rest your fingers and wrist for a period of time before resuming normal activities. Pain relievers should be taken if needed but if pain persists or worsens it’s best to consult with a doctor who specializes in hand rehabilitation before taking any further action.
Preventive measures include changing phone positions so that they are comfortable for you to hold without causing strain on your fingers or wrist. Using both hands instead of one hand only will help distribute weight evenly across your fingertips reducing chances of injury.
Overall it’s important to be aware of how much time you spend on your phone each day so you can take preventative measures before experiencing any negative consequences associated with prolonged usage of smartphones or other devices that require repetitive movements with our thumbs or little finger