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What Is Texting Thumb?

Phone Texting Thumb

Cell phones, and particularly smart phones, have added to our connectedness through mobile data, cellular emails and especially the text message. Our thumbs are on overdrive as we communicate and interact through our phones. According to Pew Research, 9.8 trillion text messages were sent in 2012.

The tendons and muscles of the thumb are strong but not designed to do intense repetitive activity in cramped positions while on a handheld device or cell phone. The traveling of the thumb tip over the keypad causes undue stress over a period of time. The muscle fatigue, strain and prolonged muscle tension can lead to pain and inflammation that affects thumb flexibility and use. It can eventually cause tendinitis or tenosynovitis, inflammation of the tendon. If untreated, it can lead to a more serious problem of affecting everyday use of your thumb.

It may start as an ache at the base of your thumb, between your thumb and index finger, and include your wrist. It may notice it after you text or during the activity as it progresses.

If you start to feel pain, take a break. Use the other hand or digit. Make a phone call instead. Don’t text for more than a few minutes at a time. Don’t text long sentences. Use yes or no replies when you can. Spread out the activity throughout your day.

You can do gentle massage and thumb stretches to alleviate the muscle tension. It will improve flexibility and reduce discomfort. Reducing muscle tension will minimize stress on the tendons, thus hopefully avoiding tendinitis.

If symptoms persist, you may want to make an appointment to see your physician. Persistent pain and inflammation can lead to tendinitis or tenosynovitis. One common diagnosis with texting thumb is called DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis. See next week’s article for addressing this diagnosis, and what you need to know, and can do to treat these symptoms unfortunately on the rise with thumb texting.

 

About the Author - Debbie

Debbie is our Occupational Therapist and also a Certified Hand Therapist who specializes in the treatment of hand and upper extremity injuries. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University. She started specializing in Hand Therapy in 1988 and earned her Certification in Hand Therapy in 1991. She has an extensive background in orthopedics including working in a variety of outpatient hospital and hand therapy clinics. At a Southern California Orthopedic Institute with 20+ orthopedic surgeons, she worked closely with the three hand surgeons and supervised their hand therapy clinic with a staff of 4 therapists and 3 aides. She joined our team in 2008 and works at our Carlsbad and Vista clinics. She is trained in the Graston Technique and Maitland Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques and has extensive experience in fabrication of custom splints. She enjoys exploring San Diego as well as traveling, biking, skiing and photography.