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More young smartphone users with neck and hand pain

Being too engrossed when using your smartphone can cause unawareness of bad posture or doing repeated actions for long durations. (Thinkstock photo)
Being too engrossed when using your smartphone can cause unawareness of bad posture or doing repeated actions for long durations. (Thinkstock photo)

Staying connected via a smartphone or tablet can be a health hazard. Texting or gaming – with the hand and fingers repeatedly making the same actions – on a smart device can put the user at risk of injury. The repetitive action can cause damage, while the way that the device is held – especially for long periods – can also lead to soreness and pain in the wrist, thumbs and fingers.

Likewise, sitting or standing hunched over a tablet can strain the neck ligaments and muscles. Most people stretch their neck and head forward when reading, watching a film, or typing on a tablet, and if they hold that posture for a long time, micro or very tiny tears can occur in the muscle fibres or tendons.

“The bad posture occurs when reading a book too, but you are more likely to adjust your posture when you start feeling some strain. With digital media that includes sound and moving pictures, people are usually engrossed to the point of not moving, at least not until the battery dies!” said Dr Darren Tay, Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group.

Indeed, some studies have shown that spending many hours in the same position, doing the same action, puts the user at twice the likelihood of suffering from neck aches and other symptoms as someone who uses the device less frequently.

Related article: Have neck aches or back pain? You could have a slipped disc. Our orthopedic surgeon offers treatment and prevention tips.

Text neck, blackberry thumb, trigger finger are repetitive stress or strain injuries (RSI)

Micro tears and soreness usually heal with time, but poor posture that is not corrected can put increased pressure on the discs that cushion the bones of the neck. In the long term, the discs may wear out, or even slip out, causing them to pinch on the nerves. The affected person will then feel pins and needles running down his or her arms.

Popularly referred to variously as text neck, blackberry thumb, nintendonitis, trigger finger or trigger thumb, “these pains are broadly grouped as repetitive stress or strain injuries (RSI),” said Dr Tay.

If not treated, RSI can lead to other more serious conditions, he added. Typing repeatedly on a smart device can cause the tendons of the thumb or fingers to become inflamed, with pain on the inner side of the thumb or fingers, or at the joints. Over time, it might become difficult to flex the thumb or fingers as the digits become locked in a certain position, a condition known as trigger thumb or trigger finger.

Related article: Spend a lot of time on your smartphone or tablet (or both)? Beware of ‘text neck’! Our doctor explains what it is and how to prevent it

Such injuries are reversible in their early stages. So, while keeping such activities to a minimum is still the best option, practising good posture while using handheld devices can go a long way towards preventing more serious and irreversible consequences.

Not surprisingly, Dr Tay said that he is seeing more younger patients with neck and hand pain. Although no study has established a definite link between device usage and RSI, Dr Tay has started seeing an increase in the number of patients with neck and hand pain, especially in the younger, more tech-savvy age group. “The problem is probably more prevalent than we think. We have not accounted for those who self-medicate or seek more traditional forms of treatment. We only get to see the cases which have become severe,” he added.

Danger signs

In the early stages of a repetitive stress or strain injury (RSI), people may buy over-the-counter painkillers or muscle creams to ease their aches and pains. Corrective posture exercises will also help. But if a condition worsens, one should seek medical attention, said Dr Tay.

Text neck

See a doctor if:

  • the pain in the neck-shoulder-backarm area persists or worsens rapidly, making it difficult to change clothes or walk;

  • there is numbness in the arms or weakness in the muscles.

Trigger finger/thumb

See a doctor if:

  • the thumb or fingers can’t be straightened easily after bending;

  • there is numbness in the hand and/or fingers.

Posture correction, mild painkillers, steroid injections, physiotherapy and heat treatment can usually reverse muscle and tendon damage in the early stages, said Dr Tay. In more serious cases when the condition has worsened, deep tissue massage, steroid injections or even surgery may be needed, he added.

Related video: Often have neck pain? Our physiotherapist shares the common causes and simple stretches to relieve the pain

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