Mobile Addiction Impacts Wrist Health, Say Experts

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Excessive mobile usage is increasingly leading to hand and wrist injuries, warns a recent warning from orthopaedic experts. With smartphones becoming an indispensable part of our daily lives, it's essential to adopt preventive measures to protect our wrist health.

According to Dr. Prashant Kamble, Consultant Orthopaedics at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, common wrist and hand disorders due to excessive mobile use include De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tendinitis, Trigger Finger, and easy fatiguability of hand muscles.

"Repeated thumb movements and swelling in the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist can lead to inflammation and pain," Dr. Kamble explained. "Prolonged mobile use can also compress the median nerve at the wrist, resulting in symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness."

Dr. Abiturab S. Choonia, Consultant Orthopaedics at Saifee Hospital, highlighted that frequent finger usage can cause discomfort and limited movement due to stickiness of the tendon near the distal palm.

To mitigate these risks, both experts recommend taking regular breaks every 20 minutes, following the 20-20-20 rule by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Maintaining good posture, using ergonomic add-ons such as stylus or phone stand, stretching and strengthening hands, and going hands-free with voice-to-text features or earphones can also help prevent hand strain.

Additionally, taking regular breaks to rest your hands every 20-30 minutes can further reduce the risk of developing wrist-related disorders. However, if symptoms persist, it is essential to consult an orthopaedic specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

By being more conscious of smartphone usage patterns and implementing these simple fixes, you can protect your wrist health in the digital age.

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