Too often people are using their hands on these pads and phones to the point of wrist pain and discomfort, but this is not new to medicine or physical therapy.

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Touch Screen Thumb: an updated Mommy Thumb
Spending night after night on a tablet or
Smartphone has created a new phenomenon
from an age old condition. Too often people
are using their hands on these pads and
phones to the point of wrist pain and
discomfort, but this is not new to medicine or
physical therapy.
What is going on, medically, is DeQuervain's
Tenosynovitis. Most people know it by its
more colloquial term, Mommy Thumb, except
the thumb has moved to the wrist.
Tenosynovitis means “swollen tendon
sheath.” Mommy Thumb is when the sheath
over the tendon becomes inflamed and causes sharp, acute pain in the
thumb and around the wrist. The term came around from mothers who
constantly pick up children under the arm, often with the thumb pointed up.
This leads to the swelling and discomfort.
What has changed? Nothing actually. The same way a mother bends over to
pick up a child is the same way people are holding tablets and Smartphones.
The pain can be excruciating at times, and unless the hands are rested, the
pain will not subside easily. Here are a few excellent tips to minimize and
help prevent DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis.
1. The wrist – The wrist should be neutral or slightly tilted back if you are
going to scroll with a thumb.
2. The thumb – Avoid the temptation to scroll through large amounts of
text with large sweeping motions.
3. Ice – As soon as you feel something is wrong or off, ice down the affected
area. Ice will help relieve the swelling rapidly.

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4. Swap hands – Use your non-dominant hand to scroll or swipe. It will
seem awkward, but it may be necessary to give the wrist and thumb a
break.
5. Rest – Put the tablet or phone down for a while. Try to focus attention on
something besides those devices. Taking a brisk walk outside is not a bad
idea.
Treatment
Like most injuries of this nature, common treatments are the best. Start
with ice packs for swelling, immobilize if necessary and use stretching
techniques for the thumb and wrist. For more tips, contact the professionals
at Raritan Physical Therapy. We would be glad to answer any of your
questions and even take a look if necessary.
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Raritan Physical Therapy
16 Campus Dr
Edison NJ 08837
(732) 662-4400
http://raritanpt.com/
raritanphysicaltherapy@gmail.com