How Smartphone Use Is Causing Hand, Wrist & Thumb Pain in University Students

Written by Dr Julian Simpson — Chiropractor with 15+ years of experience, Board Member of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation, and author/reviewer of 800+ health articles.

Quick Answer: The review found that students using smartphones for long periods — commonly more than 4–7 hours daily — reported high rates of pain and discomfort in the:

• Thumb

• Wrist

• Fingers

• Palm

• Forearm

• Upper limbs

Some studies reported wrist/hand pain prevalence as high as:

• 68.7% of students are experiencing wrist or hand pain

• 50.57% reporting wrist, hand, or finger issues within 12 months

• 52.4% reporting wrist pain linked to smartphone overuse

• 44.05% reporting musculoskeletal pain overall

How Smartphone Use Is Causing Hand, Wrist & Thumb Pain in University Students

Smartphones have become essential in everyday life. University students now spend hours every day texting, scrolling social media, studying online, watching videos, gaming, and communicating through their devices. While smartphones improve convenience and connectivity, research is increasingly showing a serious downside — excessive smartphone use is strongly linked to hand, wrist, thumb, and upper limb pain.

At Health Wise Chiropractic, we commonly see patients with repetitive strain injuries, thumb pain, wrist discomfort, neck tension, headaches, and postural problems related to prolonged phone use. Recent research confirms that smartphone overuse is becoming a major contributor to musculoskeletal dysfunction, particularly among younger adults and university students.

What Does the Research Show?

A large systematic review published between 2014 and 2024 examined 18 separate studies investigating smartphone use and hand pain in university students worldwide. The findings consistently showed strong links between:

• Excessive smartphone use

• Smartphone addiction

• Poor posture

• One-handed typing

• Repetitive thumb movements

• Larger and heavier smartphones

and increased rates of:

• Wrist pain

• Thumb pain

• Hand discomfort

• Finger pain

• Upper limb strain

• Musculoskeletal disorders

Some studies found wrist and hand pain affected as many as 68.7% of students.

How Much Smartphone Use Is Too Much?

Research found that students commonly used smartphones between:

• 4 to 7+ hours per day

Many studies showed that symptoms significantly increased once daily use exceeded 4–5 hours.

Students who spent longer periods on their devices reported:

• More thumb pain

• Increased wrist discomfort

• Finger strain

• Reduced hand function

• Greater muscle fatigue

Excessive smartphone use was also associated with reduced physical activity, poor posture, and increased musculoskeletal tension throughout the body.

Smartphone Addiction and Musculoskeletal Pain

Several studies found that smartphone addiction strongly increased the risk of pain and disability.

Reported smartphone addiction rates ranged from:

• 15.9% to over 68%

Students with higher addiction scores were significantly more likely to experience:

• Wrist pain

• Thumb pain

• Hand numbness

• Upper limb discomfort

• Reduced grip strength

• Functional limitations

Researchers also linked excessive smartphone use to:

• Repetitive strain injuries

• Tendon irritation

• Nerve compression

• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (“texting thumb”)

• Median nerve irritation

• “BlackBerry thumb”

Why Smartphones Cause Hand & Wrist Pain

Smartphone use places repetitive stress on small muscles, tendons, joints, and nerves in the hands and wrists.

Common contributing factors include:

• Repetitive thumb movements

• Constant gripping

• Wrist flexion

• Ulnar deviation

• Static postures

• Prolonged sitting

• One-handed phone use

Using only the thumb to scroll or type places significant strain on the:

• Thumb tendons

• Wrist joints

• Forearm muscles

• Median nerve

• Thenar muscles at the base of the thumb

Over time this repetitive loading can contribute to inflammation, muscle fatigue, tendon irritation, and chronic pain.

Poor Smartphone Posture Makes Symptoms Worse

The review found posture plays a major role in smartphone-related injuries.

High-risk positions included:

• Looking down at the phone for long periods

• Side-lying in bed while using the phone

• Sitting without support

• Holding the phone below eye level

• Maintaining the same posture for hours

One study showed students using smartphones while side-lying in the evening had significantly higher ergonomic risk scores for musculoskeletal disorders.

Another study found prolonged static posture reduces blood supply to muscles, increasing fatigue and tissue strain.

One-Handed Typing Increases Thumb Pain

Research showed many students hold the phone in one hand and type using only one thumb.

This repetitive motion significantly increases stress through:

• The thumb tendons

• Wrist stabilisers

• Hand muscles

Studies consistently found the thumb and wrist were the most painful areas.

Researchers identified repetitive:

• Thumb flexion

• Thumb abduction

• Scrolling motions

• Texting movements

as key contributors to overuse injuries.

Larger & Heavier Smartphones Increase Strain

Several studies found larger phones and heavier devices increased the likelihood of pain.

Phones larger than 5 inches and heavier than 160–200 grams were associated with:

• Increased wrist deviation

• Greater thumb reach

• More muscle activation

• Higher pain levels

Larger devices force users into awkward gripping positions and increase strain through the hands and wrists.

Women May Be More Susceptible

Multiple studies found that female students experienced:

• Higher smartphone addiction scores

• More upper limb pain

• Greater musculoskeletal symptoms

Researchers suggested contributing factors may include:

• Smaller hand size

• Different usage patterns

• Increased texting frequency

• Greater thumb strain

• Higher pain sensitivity

Common Symptoms of Smartphone Overuse

Excessive smartphone use may contribute to:

• Thumb pain

• Wrist pain

• Finger stiffness

• Hand weakness

• Tingling or numbness

• Forearm tightness

• Neck pain

• Shoulder tension

• Headaches

• Reduced grip strength

Many people also develop poor forward-head posture and rounded shoulders from prolonged device use.

How Chiropractic Care May Help

At Health Wise Chiropractic, we assess the entire kinetic chain contributing to repetitive strain and postural overload.

Treatment may include:

• Chiropractic adjustments

• Soft tissue therapy

• Postural correction

• Ergonomic advice

• Wrist and thumb mobility work

• Forearm muscle treatment

• Shockwave therapy

• Laser therapy

• Spinal decompression where appropriate

• Exercise rehabilitation

Addressing both posture and repetitive loading patterns is important for reducing ongoing irritation.

Tips to Reduce Smartphone-Related Hand Pain

Research recommends several strategies to reduce strain:

1. Use Both Hands

Typing with both hands reduces the load on a single thumb.

2. Take Frequent Breaks

Break every 20–30 minutes to reduce muscle fatigue.

3. Change Positions Regularly

Avoid remaining in one posture for prolonged periods.

4. Hold the Phone Higher

Bringing the phone closer to eye level reduces neck and wrist strain.

5. Use Voice-to-Text

Reducing repetitive typing may help decrease thumb overload.

6. Stretch Your Wrists & Forearms

Regular mobility exercises can reduce tension buildup.

7. Consider Device Size

Lighter, more ergonomic phones may reduce stress on the hands.

How Chiropractic Care May Help

At Health Wise Chiropractic, we take a comprehensive approach to posture-related care.

Treatment may include:

• Chiropractic adjustments

• Postural assessment

• Soft tissue therapy

• Corrective exercises

• Ergonomic advice

• Laser therapy

• Shockwave therapy

• Spinal decompression therapy

We focus on addressing both the symptoms and the underlying biomechanical stress contributing to neck dysfunction.

About the Author

Dr Julian Simpson is an Australian chiropractor with over 15 years of experience in musculoskeletal healthcare and rehabilitation.

He is a Board Member of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation and has reviewed and written more than 800 evidence-based health articles focused on spinal health, rehabilitation, sports injuries and conservative care approaches.

His treatment focus includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments

• Sports chiropractic

• Massage therapy

• Shockwave therapy

• Laser therapy

• Non-surgical spinal decompression

Dr Simpson provides patient care through Healthwise Chiropractic, serving communities including Sunbury, Melton, Diggers Rest and surrounding regions.

reference

Varmazyar S. Smartphone use and related factors with hand pain among university students: a systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2026 May 6. doi: 10.1186/s12891-026-09702-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42087099.