Muscular Fatigue in Hands Due to Smartphone Overuse

Abstract

As technology is advancing day by day, the smartphone is getting popularly in day to day life of every human especially the young generation. They spend maximum time of their day with smartphone either in texting or other app uses that leads to various discomfort and injuries in their upper limbs. Thus the study was conducted to find the fact of smartphone use on grip and pinch strength of users. Total 160 students (80 girls and 80 boys) between the age group of 18 to 24 years were selected through random sampling technique. For the collection of experimental data grip and pinch force of the studernts was measured. The pre and post experiment was also cinducted for assessment of the differences in grip and pinch of the respondents before and after uses of smartphone. Results revealed that decrease in grip strength of right hand was found 2.05 % in boys and 2.41 % in girls and it was also found that there was decrease in pinch strength of both respondents' right hand (1.03 kg in girls and 1.06 kg in boys) after using smartphone continously for half an hour. As the right hand was dominant hand so the left hand was not showing pinch and grip change. The decrease in pinch and grip strength shows maarked muscle fatigue in individual that will lead to chronic pain and injuries of muscles. The results proved its strength reduction of pinch and grip was due to smartphone use and improvement can be done through proper handling and streching exercises. Uses of smartphone will comfortable screen size was recomended.