Evaluating hand performance and strength in children with high rates of smartphone usage: an observational study.
Nadia L Radwan, Marwa M Ibrahim, Waleed Salah El-Din Mahmoud
PMID 32082032WHAT IT FOUND
Children with high smartphone addiction scores had much weaker grip and pinch strength in their dominant hand than those with low scores.
Their dominant-hand grip averaged 19.6 kg versus 58.9 kg in the low-use group. Hand function scores were also worse in the high-use group.
Key findings
01High-frequency smartphone users showed significantly weaker grip and pinch strengths on their dominant hand compared to low-frequency users.
02Upper-arm and hand function, measured by qDASH scores, was significantly worse in high-frequency smartphone users than in low-frequency users.
03Hand dominance alone did not significantly affect strength or function; the difference emerged from the interaction between smartphone use level and hand dominance.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that smartphone use caused the weakness; children with pre-existing hand issues might use smartphones differently. The sample size was small (60 children) and limited to healthy children in one location, so results may not generalize to all populations. Smartphone usage was categorized by addiction scale scores rather than precise time spent on the device. The study excluded children with existing orthopedic or neurological problems, so it does not apply to patients with known upper limb conditions.
Declared interests
The study received no specific funding from public, commercial, or non-profit sectors, and the authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that all hand weakness in children is due to smartphone overuse. This study compared groups based on addiction scores, but it did not measure actual daily usage hours or specific postures, so other factors like lack of exercise or different hand activities could also influence strength.