From the moment we wake up in the morning, we are on our phones. The majority of us keep using our phones throughout the rest of the day. We can be replying to our friends, flicking through social media, checking our finances and scheduling appointments. As we grow more reliant on our technology, we begin to see new types of musculoskeletal issues present in the physiotherapy clinic.
Let me introduce you to ‘texting thumb’, a type of injury that is caused by repetitive use of the thumbs. This can create pain and tenderness at the thumb tendons where our muscle connects to our bones. Suddenly, smartphone may not seem like a clever idea? The technical term for this overuse injury is called ‘De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis’. The two thumb tendons known as the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) are irritated and can affect the way we move our affected hand. This condition does not only target mobile phone users, often mums are also affected due to having to regularly hold their baby.
Sign and Symptoms:
- Pain and grinding sensation at the wrist
- Pain during wrist and thumb movements
- Difficulty with using a mobile phone, using keys, writing and carrying plates
Treatment options for Text Thumb (De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis)
So what can we do for remedy this pesky injury? Although using an ice pack and rest is required to initially settle down the inflammation, it does not address the underlying weakness impairment. Your thumb muscles are still weak and unable to tolerate the load! The thumb will not have adequate endurance to handle your daily activities. You will need to find the optimal load so you can begin to induce the beneficial adaptive changes to the tissue. A physiotherapist will be able to help you out with this rehabilitation phase. A physiotherapist will also able to identify the possible causes of your irritated tendon. We will analyse how you work and provide recommendations on posture and wrist position. This is because your desk set up can significantly influence the amount of load that is placed onto your hand.
Initial treatment will often involve placing your affected thumb into a splint to help stabilize the joint and provide extra support to the hand. Soft tissue techniques will be given during the physiotherapy session to relax any tight muscles and facilitate the healing process. Carefully planned rehabilitation exercises will also be prescribed to start strengthening the hand to tolerate more load. These exercises may include gentle stretching, squeezing a putty and thumb movements. In particular cases, corticosteroid injections may be required to help provide symptomatic relief to the thumb. Your GP and physiotherapist will be able to determine if you are a suitable candidate for a corticosteroid injection. Don’t let text thumb get in your way from enjoying life. We are here to help! Book an appointment with our friendly physiotherapists today.