Texting and compulsive scrolling can disfigure your thumbs

The time we spend on our smartphones is bad for our eyes and our sleep, but it can also be bad for our hands.

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Although there are no studies on this subject, French doctors have noticed that patients with certain diseases, such as premature osteoarthritis of the thumb, are getting younger and younger. They suspect the heavy use of smartphones, which force their users to “swipe” and “swipe”, write and type for hours.

Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear of the cartilage in the joints, which can lead to varying degrees of pain, stiffness, and swelling. A person who infects the thumb is also called radiculopathy.

Over time, the disease may progress, significant deformity of the thumb may occur, and the bone may take on a “Z” shape.

concerned smartphone?

In 2016, a study conducted by a British telephone operator highlighted the anatomical changes that can result from the use of smartphones. However, this was not considered very serious, because it was implemented with a small number of users (2000).

“The causal relationship between daily and frequent use of phones and joint diseases is a matter of debate,” Orlene Omar, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in the hand, told French media “20 Minutes.”

He estimates that to determine that cell phones damage young people’s fingers, “it would take a cohort of 1,000 people between the ages of 16 and 26 who would be followed over a period of 30 years.”

But he confirms that the age of patients with osteoporosis is decreasing more and more: “We used to say that this disease mainly affects women over the age of 55. Today, 15 to 20% of patients are men over the age of 45.”

To continue to benefit from his cell phone without fear of maiming his fingers, the surgeon recommends simply minimizing his use or opting for the hands-free combination from time to time.