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NEW SYMPTOM

Managing mobile thumbs
Complications in the thumbs are growing and an alarming issue among texters, gamers and computer users. For every pound of pressure that you push at the tip of your thumb, it is magnified at the base of your thumb. It is estimated that people run a high risk of texting injuries if they text over 80 messages a day. This is about the equivalent of spending one hour a day only texting — repeatedly and rapidly tapping the thumb on a key pad daily makes sustained pressure at the tip of the thumb being magnified at the thumb's base! Over time, repeated thumb use or injury can lead to problems.
New research has shown that text messaging regularly, over a long period of time, can cause repetitive strain which may cause both short and long term thumb injuries.
In the UK, the emergence of a huge wave of thumb injuries are associated with today's mobile technology. Almost four million British suffer from text-related injuries, according to Virgin Mobile.
So it is no surprise that many of us suffer from sore thumbs and wrists as a result of texting mobile. It is also noted that chronic texters are experiencing acute discomfort in their wrists, arms, shoulders, and neck.
The keyboard of mobile phones are so small that most people exclusively text with their thumbs. Unfortunately the thumb is the least stable joint in the hand, which is forced into a unnatural position-that is a cramped position in which the tendons and muscles that work the thumb are at an odd angle of pull. But these tendons or muscles of the thumb are very strong but are not designed for the intensive repetitive activity in cramped positions that are required to handle smart phones. When you add frequency of movement to that, muscles can be strained causing aches and pain.
The symptoms include fatigue of thumb, swelling in the side of back of the wrist, pain at the base of the thumb, aggravated by thumb use, tenderness if you press on the base of the thumb, difficulty with tasks such as opening jars, turning a key in the lock etc., stiffness of the thumb and some loss of ability to open the thumb away from the hand, difficulties in functional activities with limited movements etc.
Over time, if untreated, the tendons become inflamed and lose strength; gripping a pen or holding a mug can become difficult.
Tips:
1. Avoiding activities that cause pain, if possible 2. If texting starts to hurt, stop and rest. Use the other hand or call instead
3. Vary the use of hands and digits
4. Do not text more than a few minutes without a break
5. Do not write long messages
6. Wrap an ice pack with thin cloth or kitchen roll and apply over sore area for 10 mins on, lOmins off, repeat for three times and couple of session during day for couple of days
7. Analgesics may give some relief
8. Gentle massage and stretching will improve flexibility and reduce the discomfort
9. Strength and endurance exercises of your forearm and hand muscles
10. Using a splint to support the thumb and wrist If the pain persists, consult with a specialist physician or physiotherapist.
The write-up is compiled by Dr Dolilur Rahman, Senior Consultant of Physiotherapy at Bangladesh Physiotherapy Hospital, Gulshan, Dhaka.