‘Phone hand’ danger: How scrolling for hours can affect your health
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Are you on your phone right now?
Whether it’s texting, scrolling through social media or watching videos, sometimes time gets away from us, and we could easily spend hours on our phones. But spending too much time on your phone can actually lead to something called “phone hand.”
Phone hand is a nonmedical term that encapsulates a variety of issues that can happen from prolonged cell phone use.
“The average person spends about three hours per day on their phone. The cumulative effect can lead to more issues than we think it does,” Samantha Zaykoski, certified hand therapist at Banner Physical Therapy, said.
When scrolling, the body tends to take on a forward, leaning position. Zaykoski says that this position can lead to tension on our nerves and tension higher in the arm that can trickle down to your hand.
What issues can phone hand cause?
- Carpal Tunnel: Numbness, tingling, weakness in the thumbs and fingers
- Cubital Tunnel: Inflammation, swelling and irritation of the elbow area, which can lead to tingling in the fingers
- Tendonitis: Inflammation of a tendon, particularly in the thumb
- Arthritis: Swelling, tenderness flare-ups in the joint of the thumb
- Trigger Finger: Painful popping and catching of the thumb
What’s the best way to avoid them?
“The best answer is just putting down your phone,” Zaykoski said. “Try to find ways to limit your screen time as much as possible.”
Some tips Zaykoski gave were to set timers on your phone to limit your screen time, add a pop socket or loop to the back of your phone to reduce the amount of gripping you do and move your body periodically to change your posture.
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