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Can the way you hold your phone affect your joints? When was the last time you went somewhere totally tech-free?
Like it or not, most of us rely on technology to work, play, and stay in contact with the people around us.
But take a look at your body: are there signs your devices are making themselves a little too at home?
Spread out your hand: do you see a dent in your little finger? This is common enough to have its own name (“smartphone pinky”)… but what actually is it?
This isn’t an official medical diagnosis! It’s just a name for the indent you see. This dent happens when we hold our phone in a certain way over time. Thankfully, it’s not dangerous or a permanent alteration to your body. You’re not reshaping the bones in your finger; just squashing down the skin.
While “smartphone pinky” might not pose a threat to your immediate health, it’s certainly worth considering some of the other ways technology might affect us.
In 2008, 29% of people aged 16-24 owned a smartphone. Compare that to the 96% today and we’ve got a few more tech-related aches and pains to consider. ¹
Some research suggests that repetitive activities – including excessive scrolling, clicking, and typing – may lead to conditions like repetitive strain injury (RSI) or carpal tunnel syndrome (though research in these fields is still early). ² ³
And, no, screen time won’t make your eyes go square – but short-term it dries out our eyes and may even contribute to the development or worsening of long-term issues like short sight. ⁴
It’s thought that the average office worker spends 1700 hours in front of a computer each year. ⁵
In an ideal world, we’d all have perfect posture. But, for many of us, the way we sit at work could be damaging our joints, bones, and muscles.
Sustaining the same position for a long time is an easy recipe for pain and stiffness. Plus, keeping our hands or neck in unnatural positions may place pressure on the joints and cause damage over time.
“Nerd neck” (also known as “tech neck” or “gamer neck”) is when we lean our heads forward to look at a screen. This puts our neck and shoulders out of line with the rest of our body, overly tightening our upper back muscles and weakening the front of the neck.
And the longer we spend with poor posture, the more comfortable it can become for us.
While it’s a tough habit to kick, poor posture while working, watching TV, or on our phones could put unnecessary strain on our joints, bones, and muscles and contribute to their “wear and tear” over time.
This “wear and tear” could increase your chances of conditions like arthritis, especially in areas like the hands if you’re typing and scrolling for hours at a time.
A lot of the time, we don’t even realise our posture is poor. Like we discussed before, positions that harm our joints, bones, and muscles can easily feel comfortable once we spend enough time in them.
And it’s even easier when we’re engrossed in a TV show or focusing on work.
But your body should give you some signs that it’s time to stop scrolling or take a stretch break. Look for:
It’s important to consider the mental effect, too. Do you feel nervous without your phone or find yourself waking up in the night to check notifications? If so, the impact could be more than skin (and bone) deep.
The main physical danger of excessive device use is that it overworks certain muscles, while weakening the ones that aren’t being used.
Reducing your phone and computer time is ideal, but it’s certainly not realistic to expect a fully screen-free life. Here are some steps you can take to help keep your tech time as kind to your body as possible:
Need to get up and stretch? Why not try one of our quick yoga sessions from instructor Sarah Malcolm – whether it’s an energising morning routine or a lunch-break shakeup, there’s something for you below.
Just don’t forget to give that smartphone pinky some rest...
Last updated: 31 March 2023
The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments or remedies. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.