What is “Text Claw”
Fingers curled around the edge of the phone, wrist bent towards you. Does this sound familiar? If you’ve been getting pain in your fingers or along the back of your wrist you may have overstretched your Extensor Digitorum Communis ( EDC) tendon.
Text claw may not be a formal medical diagnosis, and some use it specifically to mean EDC tendinopathy but more people use this term to describe a common condition where an individual feels the pangs of typing, texting, or browsing the web. Text claw explains the pain you get throughout your hands and wrist after continuously performing fine motor activities particularly the usage of smartphones. In addition to text messaging, other fine motor activities that may cause text claw include, peeling vegetables and needlepoint
Have you ever experience feelings of soreness and cramping in the fingers, wrist and forearm after prolonged smart phone usage? Being glued to tech devices like smart phones can lead to conditions such as Tendinitis, ie.inflammation of the tendons, which research has established is strongly linked to overuse and repetitive motions of fingers and hands.
Understanding Hand Tendonitis
Tendons, the fibrous tissues connecting muscles to bones, can become inflamed and painful due to activities like typing, texting, or scrolling on mobile devices. Hand tendinitis, a condition characterized by inflammation or irritation of hand tendons, is often the result of repetitive motions or excessive strain on the hands and wrists. This condition is associated with wrist pain, numbness, aching, and loss of strength. Tendonitis can make the smallest tasks seem nearly impossible to complete. Most importantly, the swelling from tendonitis may lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
How to Prevent Text Claw and Hand Tendonitis
To alleviate the risk of hand tendonitis, students and academicians should adopt the following strategies:
1. Take Regular Breaks: Incorporate short breaks into study or work sessions to give hands and wrists a rest from mobile phone usage.
2. Maintain Good Posture: Practice proper posture, ie. Try to maintain a neutral wrist while using smartphones to minimize strain on hands, wrists, and neck. Hold phone by resting the weight of the phone on the palm
3. Change positions often: to avoid applying continuous loads on the same muscles over extended periods of time
4. Utilize Ergonomic Tools: Explore ergonomic accessories like phone stands or styluses to support comfortable and sustainable smartphone usage. level or using ergonomic accessories, such as phone stands can help.
Fingers curled around the edge of the phone, wrist bent towards you. Does this sound familiar? If you’ve been getting pain in your fingers or along the back of your wrist you may have overstretched your Extensor Digitorum Communis ( EDC) tendon.
Text claw may not be a formal medical diagnosis, and some use it specifically to mean EDC tendinopathy but more people use this term to describe a common condition where an individual feels the pangs of typing, texting, or browsing the web. Text claw explains the pain you get throughout your hands and wrist after continuously performing fine motor activities particularly the usage of smartphones. In addition to text messaging, other fine motor activities that may cause text claw include, peeling vegetables and needlepoint
Have you ever experience feelings of soreness and cramping in the fingers, wrist and forearm after prolonged smart phone usage? Being glued to tech devices like smart phones can lead to conditions such as Tendinitis, ie.inflammation of the tendons, which research has established is strongly linked to overuse and repetitive motions of fingers and hands.
Understanding Hand Tendonitis
Tendons, the fibrous tissues connecting muscles to bones, can become inflamed and painful due to activities like typing, texting, or scrolling on mobile devices. Hand tendinitis, a condition characterized by inflammation or irritation of hand tendons, is often the result of repetitive motions or excessive strain on the hands and wrists. This condition is associated with wrist pain, numbness, aching, and loss of strength. Tendonitis can make the smallest tasks seem nearly impossible to complete. Most importantly, the swelling from tendonitis may lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
How to Prevent Text Claw and Hand Tendonitis
To alleviate the risk of hand tendonitis, students and academicians should adopt the following strategies:
1. Take Regular Breaks: Incorporate short breaks into study or work sessions to give hands and wrists a rest from mobile phone usage.
2. Maintain Good Posture: Practice proper posture, ie. Try to maintain a neutral wrist while using smartphones to minimize strain on hands, wrists, and neck. Hold phone by resting the weight of the phone on the palm
3. Change positions often: to avoid applying continuous loads on the same muscles over extended periods of time
4. Utilize Ergonomic Tools: Explore ergonomic accessories like phone stands or styluses to support comfortable and sustainable smartphone usage. level or using ergonomic accessories, such as phone stands can help.
5. Intrinsic muscle strengthening and stretching: Integrate hand and wrist stretches into daily routines to improve flexibility and strengthen muscles and tendons. These exercises can help alleviate tension and reduce the risk of hand tendinitis.
6. Explore Alternative Input Methods: switch to voice commands or alternative input methods to lessen reliance on repetitive finger movements.
7. Seek Professional advice: If experiencing persistent hand discomfort, seek advice from healthcare professionals or physiotherapists for personalized recommendations and treatment options.
While mobile phones offer undeniable benefits for academic and student life, it’s crucial to be mindful of their potential impact on hand health by avoiding overuse, implementing ergonomic practices, switching positions, and seeking professional assistance when needed, students and academicians can mitigate the risk of claw hand and hand tendinitis and maintain optimal hand health in their academic pursuits.
6. Explore Alternative Input Methods: switch to voice commands or alternative input methods to lessen reliance on repetitive finger movements.
7. Seek Professional advice: If experiencing persistent hand discomfort, seek advice from healthcare professionals or physiotherapists for personalized recommendations and treatment options.
While mobile phones offer undeniable benefits for academic and student life, it’s crucial to be mindful of their potential impact on hand health by avoiding overuse, implementing ergonomic practices, switching positions, and seeking professional assistance when needed, students and academicians can mitigate the risk of claw hand and hand tendinitis and maintain optimal hand health in their academic pursuits.