Tips for Preventing Smartphone Hand Pain

Let’s face it, most of us have our phones in hand more often than not. Holding and using your device for several hours each day can lead to pain in your hands and wrists. You can even develop a repetitive stress injury in your thumb from typing too much. Follow these simple tips for preventing smartphone hand pain.

Hold your phone correctly

Most of the positions you can hold your phone in are not good for your muscles. This is why developing smartphone hand pain is so common in today’s times. When using your phone, try to keep your wrist straight as much as possible. You can do this by texting with once hand rather than using both thumbs. Another method would be setting your phone on a flat surface while you type.

Relieving smartphone hand pain

When you are experiencing pain due to excessive use of your phone, there are things you can do to alleviate this discomfort. Some of the best ways to do this are:

• Take breaks to stretch your hands, fingers and wrists
• Apply heat to relax sore muscles
• Apply cold to calm more acute muscle spasms
• Massage your hands to increase blood flow and relieve tight muscles
• Use your fingers instead of your thumbs when typing to prevent developing a serious condition in this digit
• Use the voice activated features of your phone

All of these techniques will help you recover from smartphone hand pain and help to prevent damage to your hands, fingers, or wrists. Making lifestyle adjustments to use your phone less will also go a long way in preventing pain and injury.

When to see a professional for smartphone hand pain

Most symptoms related to using your smartphone can be relieved with home treatment. If you are experiencing numbness, tingling, cramping, or stiffness long after you put down your phone, it may be time to see a professional. You may have developed a repetitive stress injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis or nerve damage. The hand specialists at Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group can help. Our skilled doctors will assess your condition and make recommendations for treatment options so that you can get back to your activities of daily living.