Smartphones are often linked to mental health concerns, but their impact goes beyond the mind. For the last few years, a growing number of users worldwide have reported a curious physical side effect dubbed “smartphone pinky”, which refers to a noticeable bend or dent in the little finger due to prolonged phone use.
In case you are wondering, it is mostly noticeable in the middle bone and the upper bone of the pinky finger, which either look compressed or bent. And with phones growing bigger and heavier every year, the problem will become bigger than before. Smartphone pinky is not an actual medical condition, it is more of an informal term used to describe a dent that forms where the bottom edge of the phone rests when holding it with one hand.
According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, United States, involving 500 participants, almost half used smartphones for five to eight hours a day. It was found that almost two-thirds of them held smartphones in the wrong way, while the majority of them said they had not heard about the term.
If you are suffering from smartphone pinky, try not to use your smartphone for a prolonged time. Also, whenever possible, use both hands to operate the phone so the load gets distributed. The study also suggests that using a phone stand or holder can help one maintain a neutral wrist position and alleviate the problem.
As of now, there aren’t enough studies to suggest that smartphone pinky can cause serious damage to the finger, and it is unlikely that people are permanently bending their fingers from phone usage, it might impact joints in the long run.
Another study conducted in India revealed that students who used their smartphones for hours, 46,9 per cent complained about neck discomfort, while 29.2 per cent said they had thumb pain. It also claims that almost 66.4 per cent of people were smartphone addicts.
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