Where would we be these days without our smartphones? While they are undoubtedly useful, did you know that using them to excess can actually cause a telltale physical sign? Here’s all you need to know about ‘smartphone finger’ – and what you can do about it if you’ve got it
Ever heard of the phrase ‘smartphone finger’?
It’s a term used to describe the all-too common physical discomfort or strain that comes from excessive use of – you guessed it – smartphones. And the condition has become more and more common in recent years as our devices gain an ever increasing stranglehold upon most of us. All those repetitive movements while typing, swiping, or tapping on the screen wreak untold havoc on our pinkies – with a study by Compare and Recycle showing more than half of 2,000 Brits quizzed complaining of the affliction.
If we know one thing about Gen Z it’s their love of mobile phones, so it comes as no surprise that horror struck after a TikTok went viral revealing that they may be suffering from this condition. The clip from ‘The TJ Show’ podcast explains that “the way we hold our phones – sometimes with the weight of your phone resting on your pinky finger – has created an indentation. It has actually changed the way your pinky looks”.
He goes on to explain a simple way to check if you are affected by smartphone finger; and that’s to compare the finger which you hold your smartphone with to the opposing finger on the other hand. Many viewers jumped to the comments to share their discovery that they too spotted an indentation, with one even saying that ‘it’s a new insecurity’.
How many people suffer from ‘smartphone finger’?
The study discovered that a shocking number of people suffer from symptoms of smartphone finger:
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55 per cent of Brits admit to suffering from it, noticing aches, pains and physical changes in their pinky finger since smartphone use.
If you can’t see the poll, click here
Smartphone finger FAQs answered by a doctor
Compare and Recycle spoke with Dr Gareth Nye, senior lecturer in endocrinology and programme leader for medical science at the University of Chester, to answer all ‘smartphone finger’ frequently asked questions.
Is smartphone finger a medical condition?
“I’ve seen a large number of social media posts now concerning a phenomenon being referred to as ‘smartphone finger’ with people developing indents in the little finger from holding a phone. I would like to say upfront that there isn’t anything medical going on here and it’s not a medical condition but it’s a clear sign you are using your phone too much and you may be at risk of actual medical problems.”
How long does it take to develop smartphone finger?
“Wider conversations around mobile phone usage and health are clearly seen here if you are utilising your mobile phone for long enough to cause this indent however, if you are concerned, you would probably need to be having greater than six hours a day usage to impact the underlying anatomy.”
What other medical conditions can overusing your smartphone cause?
“Using a mobile phone for significant periods of time does increase your risk of conditions such as trigger finger, which refers to inflammation of the tendon that helps your finger bend or carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a common condition that occurs when one of the major nerves to the hand, the median nerve, is compressed at the wrist.”
Tips to avoid painful conditions in the future caused by your smartphone, according to a doctor
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Get a phone that fits your hand size and hold your smartphone in a comfortable position.
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Use phone grips to put less stress on your finger and your wrist
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Take anti-inflammatories under medically approved guidance when symptoms do appear.
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Use voice accessibility options.
