To learn more about text claw, we asked Dr Sunil Dachepali, clinical director and senior consultant orthopaedic, robotic joint replacement and arthroscopy surgeon at Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad,...
To learn more about text claw, we asked Dr Sunil Dachepali, clinical director and senior consultant orthopaedic, robotic joint replacement and arthroscopy surgeon at Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad, to explain the consequences of excessive typing and scrolling on the fingers and wrists.
He clarified that text claw is not an official medical diagnosis. Instead, it describes a collection of overuse injuries to the muscles, tendons, joints and nerves of the hand and upper limb.
“We are seeing more and more patients with symptoms associated with excessive device use, often referred to as ‘text claw’,” he addressed the rise in device-related hand strain injuries.
It may seem very easy, quick and effortless, as you are tapping, swiping, scrolling, texting. Each movement may feel small in the moment, but you repeat them hundreds or thousands of times throughout the day. It can exert a lot of stress on your hands, thumbs and wrists. Dr Dachepalli cautioned that, actually, the human hand is not built for this kind of repetitive motion.
“The human hand was not made to do thousands of repetitive tapping, texting, and scrolling motions every day. Smartphones are nowadays used continuously, placing a lot of stress on the thumb, which performs repetitive movements across an unusually wide range of motion,” he added.
When these movements are repeated frequently, he noted, they can cause irritation, inflammation, and pain in the tendons around the thumb and wrist, a condition commonly called ‘texting thumb.’
Being vigilant is important, and acting quickly when you spot any warning signs is critical, as early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the risks of complications.
Dr Dachepali shared these 7 signs, which comprise the text claw condition:
4. Hand cramping after prolonged phone use
If these symptoms last several weeks and do not improve with rest, then the surgeon urged to seek medical help urgently.
Until and unless the symptoms are causing any major problem and disrupting daily functioning, many choose to ignore the pain. They resort to temporary relief measures such as balms instead of seeking professional medical help. But this is a bad idea, as the surgeon warned that the minor inflammation caused by repeated motion may gradually escalate into more severe conditions such as tendinitis, trigger carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome and chronic nerve compression disorders.
You can prevent symptoms of text claw by following the basic ground rules of proper device use. Dr Dachepalli shared the following preventive measures to reduce strain on the hands, thumbs and wrists:
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition