Help for Texting Tendonitis
Have you ever heard of texting tendonitis?
Yes, it’s a thing.
Texting Tendonitis
It’s the pain you get in your thumb and wrist from too much texting or smartphone game playing. You can also end up with pain in your wrist, arms and shoulders from too much time on your smartphone.
What Causes It?
If that sounds unbelievable, it may be because you didn’t realize you were texting and game-playing for nearly 25 hours per week – at least that’s the amount of time the average American spends texting.
The Wall Street Journal reports that tendons in your hand can thicken abnormally, and people can develop tenuities from using their thumbs too much all from texting.
What can you do about it? There is help for texting tendonitis.
Exercises are Helpful
The hot tub is a miracle worker, and we’re going to tell you about some more things you can do in the hot tub to ease your aches and pains.
First, hot water on its own relieves many body aches, and the jets can massage sore hands, arms and shoulders.
Next, you can do these exercises with both hands several times per week. Aim for three sets of 10 repetitions. Please do check with your doctor first as these tips don’t constitute a doctor’s advice. Here are the exercises:
#1: Strength Training
For this exercise, you need a large rubber band. You can strengthen the muscles on the back of your hand to help with some resistance training.
- Close your fingers like you are grabbing something between your thumb and fingers.
- Gently cup your hand so that your thumb and fingers make an oval.
- Wrap a rubber band around your fingers and thumb at the knuckle.
- Open your hand and stretch the rubber band.
#2: Wrist Extensions
For this exercise, you need a very light dumbbell.
- Hold the weight.
- Put your forearm on a table your hand hangs over the edge.
- Try this exercise in your hot tub – the cool down seat is a good place.
- Relax your wrist and let it bend down.
- Gently raise and lower the weight.
#4: Thumb Flexion
Again, you can sit in the hot tub for this exercise for extra relaxation.
- With hand resting on little finger side, slide thumb across palm.
- Repeat 10 times.
#5: Thumb Extension
Do this exercise in the hot tub, too!
- Bring thumb up and out in hitchhiker position.
- Hold 10 seconds.
For more exercises, check out this guide from Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Final Thoughts
To ease your aching texting or game playing shoulders, try shoulder shrugs. The hot tub is also a great place to do these exercises.
To alleviate pain in the future, you can try texting with different fingers. Another good idea is to set your phone down to text so you put less strain on your wrists and shoulders.
Finally, limit your texting time and keep your messages short.
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Image: Josh Felise
