Excessive Smartphone Use as a Risk Factor for Clinical Signs Compatible with De Quervain's Tenosynovitis: A...

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal health
• Digital health
• Occupational health

Background:

• Young adults exhibit high smartphone usage, increasing risks for repetitive strain injuries.
• De Quervain's tenosynovitis is a common condition associated with wrist tendon overuse, particularly in the first dorsal compartment.
• Understanding the link between mobile device use and musculoskeletal issues is crucial for prevention and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between smartphone usage patterns (screen time, unlock frequency) and de Quervain's tenosynovitis symptoms in young adults.
• To specifically examine these associations in the dominant hand.
• To assess the role of smartphone addiction in the prevalence and severity of symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey of 202 young adults assessing smartphone usage, addiction (Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, SAS-SV), and wrist pain via the Finkelstein maneuver.
• Statistical analysis included Spearman's rank correlation, Mann-Whitney U tests, and logistic regression.
• Focus on identifying relationships between device usage, addiction levels, and pain in the dominant hand.

Main Results:

• Significant positive correlation found between smartphone use intensity and self-reported wrist pain.
• Pain intensity showed moderate correlation with both unlock frequency (ρ=0.596) and daily screen time (ρ=0.524).
• Individuals classified as smartphone-addicted reported higher usage intensity and increased pain prevalence.

Conclusions:

• Frequent and prolonged smartphone use is significantly associated with clinical signs of de Quervain's tenosynovitis in the dominant hand.
• Smartphone addiction correlates with increased symptom severity.
• Diagnosis was based on clinical examination; imaging was not utilized.