Between shooting off emails, sending text messages, and updating our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, we put our phones - and our thumbs - through a lot of work. A 2013 study from Experian cited that American smartphone users between the ages of 18-24 send over 2,000 texts per month. And with that, we may be doing some serious damage to our thumbs.
"The repetitive action of ANY activity can contribute to an injury, and texting day in and day out is no different," cites
Baltimore chiropractor Dr. Michael Dorn. It's important to consider the cumulative effect of all of the activities that use the same muscle groups. So, texting in addition to other activities that use the same muscles, such as performing hand-intensive jobs or playing video games, can put people at a higher risk for injury.
Here are a few suggestions to lower your risk of injury:
- Take breaks. As with any activity, taking a break can help.
- Chill out. Ice can be helpful if painful symptoms develop.
- Stretch. There are a number of different hand and finger (and thumb) stretches that can help.
- Consider your other activities. If possible, minimize all activities that require heavy use of your thumb.
If you think you may have an upper extremity injury, come visit us at
Baltimore Back and Pain Center for a
complimentary evaluation. Call the office today at 410-662-4476 to schedule an appointment.
