Typing on your cell phone with your thumb is wrong and can cause inflammation

Typing on your cell phone with your thumb is wrong and can cause inflammation


To avoid inflammation and cases of tendinitis, experts recommend using your thumb with caution when typing on your cell phone; if possible, use the indicator

When sending a text message on a cell phone, it’s rare to see someone who doesn’t use their thumbs. While scrolling through the feed Instagram or any other social network, the thumb is also activated in this case. Although it is the most practical, experts explain that this finger has not evolved throughout history to be used in this way. When use is continuous, there is a risk of injuries and even tendonitis: inflammation of the tendon.



Since cell phones are used for countless hours a day, almost always with the “wrong” finger, it is not uncommon to find people who have developed some type of inflammation in the tendons of the fingers. In fact, there is a term directly related to this problem. This is “texting tendonitis”, i.e. the tendonitis of sending messages.

“Most of the time we see [quadros de] tendonitis due to overuse of the fingers and wrist [ao mexer no celular]”, explains Ellen Kroin, surgeon at Northwestern University Hospital (USA) and specialist in the hand area, in a note.

However, Dr. Kroin points out that injury and inflammation only occur with repetitive, recurring strains. One of the first signs is discomfort in the thumb, which should serve as a warning to adopt new behaviors, such as alternating the use of one thumb with the other. index.

Thumbs up

To understand the risks associated with typing on a cell phone, researchers at the University of Waterloo (Canada) conducted a study on 140 young university students, 84% of whom reported feeling pain in at least some part of their body. The most common discomfort was in the thumb, according to an article published in the journal Applied ergonomics.

By analyzing typical thumb postures during texting, the research team found that the thumb approaches 79% of its maximum extension during abduction and adduction movements: opening and closing. This near-limiting tension is what is associated with inflammation of the tendon that gives movement to the fingers.

The best way to write on your cell phone

To avoid excessive use of the thumb and, consequently, health problems, the recommendation is to rest the thumbs whenever possible, using the other fingers to type on the mobile phone. The use of the indicator is the most appropriate and correct, considering the physiology of the hands.




Typing on your mobile phone with your thumb is not the best option and experts suggest using your index finger (Image: Freepik)

Replacing the index finger with the thumb can be done in several ways. It is worth adding a finger rest on the back of the phone (or a back strap), which will allow you to hold the device with one hand. Meanwhile, the other is used for typing, via the indicator.

Another option for those who write too much is to test the feature that lets you type with your voiceavailable in both operating system Android and iOS. Since these features are getting better and better, it’s worth giving the feature a second chance if you’ve been frustrated with the feature in the past.

If some pain related to using your thumb has already appeared, you need to pay attention and understand the level of discomfort. “If the pain doesn’t go away [em alguns dias]contact your doctor,” advises Emily A. Gilley, a surgeon at North American University. In these cases, the specialist may prescribe medications (such as anti-inflammatories), physical therapy sessions and even surgery, depending on the condition.

Source: Applied ergonomics, Northwestern University

Trends on Canaltech:

Source: Terra

You may also like