Smartphone Overuse: The Silent Dangers of Repetitive Thumb and Wrist Movements

Prolonged use of smartphones with repetitive movements can lead to pain and damage to the thumb, little finger, and wrist joint. Dr. Huynh Hoang Anh from the Department of Rehabilitation at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City explains that positions such as bending the wrist, using the little finger as support, and gliding with the thumb while using smartphones can cause bone and joint problems in the hands.

The thumb is particularly affected by repetitive movements such as scrolling and texting, which can lead to fatigue and tendon damage. This can result in pain when bending or stretching the fingers, stiffness, and trigger finger, a condition where the tendon sheath becomes inflamed. Similarly, using the little finger as a support while holding the phone can strain ligaments in the hand, causing numbness, pain, stiffness, and joint sounds when moving fingers.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can also occur from bending the wrist at an angle while holding a phone for extended periods. This leads to numbness, tingling, and pain in the thumb and fingers. Furthermore