You might have heard of a pinky promise; a gesture that indicates making a sincere promise both parties should keep, but have you heard of the term “smartphone pinky”?
When smartphones first emerged years ago, the first and most common comment from parents and older people was that they would affect our vision, so we should not use them very often. Over the years, several studies have investigated how smartphones affect us mentally and physically.
It turns out that, if not used wisely, these devices could have devastating effects on our fingers. Each move we make triggers the action of muscles and tendons—connecting bones to the muscles—in the organ we use. This means any movement we make to grab the smartphone, clutch, or use it keeps the tendons in our hands busy, contracting and extending.
So, what are smartphone pinkies and thumbs, and how can we protect ourselves from the consequences of prolonged wrong postures?
Smartphone Pinky
As we usually support the phone’s weight with our pinky bent in and locked, it gets deeply affected. Therefore, prolonged periods of smartphone usage and repetitive movements put a strain on the pinky joint, resulting in inflammation and soreness, which leads to pain, cramps, and stiffness. Although some health professionals argue that smartphone pinkies are a temporary condition, the term is widely spread and many have reported experiencing its symptoms.
The very first symptoms of a smartphone pinky that might strike you is pain or stiffness at the base of the affected area. Other symptoms include clicking sound when you move your pinky finger, difficulty moving your fingers when you wake up in the morning, and numbness in your fingertip.
Smartphone Thumb
While smartphone pinky is mostly connected to using larger devices, including tablets or e-readers, smartphone thumb is more common when we use a smaller phone or a phone that requires manual texting instead of a touchscreen.
This condition also gets triggered by the constant interaction with the screen, texting, scrolling, and swiping. Symptoms may also occur when we are using a gaming controller that requires a lot of joystick movement and relies on the grip for support while playing.
Additionally, rapid, repetitive thumb movements can cause inflammation in the tissue around the tendons—a condition known as tenosynovitis—which can be very sore.
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Strategies to Prevent Smartphone Pinkies and Thumbs
These conditions can be really painful and negatively affect your productivity at work, study, and housework. Try out the following steps to prevent them:
- Take a break from your smartphone to rest your fingers and wrist.
- Apply ice to the site of inflammation; it can help relieve symptoms.
- Try a warm compress or a heating pad; it can also reduce pain and swelling.
- Stabilize the joint by using a splint or a brace to keep your finger stable and help reduce pain and inflammation.
- Stretch your fingers out before you pick up your device. This would help extend the range of motion of your tendons and joints, alleviate stiffness, and get your fingers ready for activity.
Finally, smartphone pinkies and thumbs are two of many device-related injuries related to wrong posture or phone overuse. To prevent these injuries and stay productive, we should be careful with how and how often we use our smartphones, whether for work or entertainment.
References
businessinsider.com
health.clevelandclinic.org
healthline.com
orthocarolina.com
theconversation.com