Cell phones destroy hand nerves
A study of 500 students shows that continuous use of cell phones permanently damages the nerves in the hands.
Wearable electronic devices cause lasting damage to the nerve structure in the hands. This is the conclusion reached by researchers at the U.S. Wiley College In their recent study on carpal tunnel syndrome. Of 500 students studied, 54 percent of intensive users and only 12 percent of less intensive users showed musculoskeletal changes associated with extensive use of technological devices.
Patients are younger and younger
"It can be seen that the age spectrum of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome has shifted significantly downwards over the last ten years. Those affected in the under-20 age group are no longer a rarity," emphasizes Starnberg hand surgeon Michael Strassmair in an interview with pressetext.
For their investigations, the US researchers randomly selected 48 students from the two groups divided for the study. The excessive users clearly showed more discomfort in the wrist and hand, which can lead to carpal tunnel disease in the long term.
Heavy users also showed stronger signs of wear of the median arm nerve and the carpal ligament running across the wrist. Possible consequences of this are, for example, numbness, tingling or even pain in the hand. These phenomena are the first indicators of problems in the nerve construct of the hand.
Numbness, tingling, pain
The study confirms the dangers of smartphones, tablets and other devices in this context. Doctors advise moderate consumption. Especially with children and adolescents, the frequency and duration of use should be well checked, because they often have problems with self-control. "You shouldn't extend the writing phases excessively and have rest periods of at least 15 minutes in between," says Strassmair.
Source: Press release
