Objective: The purpose of this study was to find the frequency of thumb pain and de Quervains tenosynovitis in mobile phone users of Punjab, Pakistan.
Methodology: This is a cross sectional study conducted in different cities of Punjab, including Sargodha, Jauharabad, Sialkot, Bhakhar, Sahiwal and Faisalabad. Male and female mobile users between the ages of 25-50 were included in the study using convenient random sampling. Outcome measures were taken through a close ended questionnaire, VAS for pain intensity in thumb, and Finkelstein for presence of dequervain Tenosynovitis. Data were analyzed on SPSS version 20.
Results: Out of 500 people, 58.6% suffered from thumb pain while 41.4% were pain free. According to type of mobile, 64% people were using smart phone, 18% were using bar or keypad phones and 18% were using both type of phones.
Conclusion: Excessive use of text messaging on mobile phon, whether keypad or smart phone is directly related to thumb pain. Moreover, type of texting, quantity of messages per day and duration of mobile usage are also the factors in developing symptoms.
Key words: Thumb pain, frequency, smart phone, De quervainsTenosynovitis, mobile phone usage, Finkelsteins Test
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