Risk factors and clinical features of text message injuries

• Published in: Work (Reading, Mass.) Mass.), 2012, Vol.41 (S1), p.1145-1148
• Main Authors: Sharan, Deepak, Ajeesh, P.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Cell Phone; Cumulative Trauma Disorders - etiology; Female; Forearm; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Musculoskeletal Diseases - etiology; Risk Factors; Text Messaging; Thumb; Wrist; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1051-9815; 1875-9270
• DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0294-1145

Use of mobile phone and sending text message is a very common in today’s life. While sending a text message the users need to use their thumb and other palm muscles extensively. The thumb most of the time adducted on the key pad of the mobile and use high force to type the letters. Studies in literature showed that text messaging has an adverse effect on musculoskeletal system of hand. But the extensive study on the type of disorders set in among the users who extensively use mobile phone for texting. This study aims at to evaluate risk factor and clinical feature of the MSD due to hand held devices. Twenty seven subjects participated in this study. Predefined protocols were used to evaluate type of MSD occurred among the subjects. The study revealed that development of tendinitis in extensor pollicis longus, myofascial pain syndrome (70.37%) of adductor pollicis, 1st interossei and extensor digitorum communis . Other associated problems diagnosed were thoracic outlet syndrome (51.85%), fibromyalgia syndrome (25.93%), hypothyroidism (7.41%), wrist tendinitis (14.81%) and De Quervain’s syndrome (7.41%). It has been observed that the pathology were tendinitis of extensor pollicis longus, myofascial pain syndrome of thenar muscles and 1st interossei, extensor digitorum communis.