Occurrence of various musculoskeletal disorders in hand among smartphone addicted college going students

Abstract

The increasing dependence on smartphones among college-going students has revolutionized communication, education, and entertainment but has also contributed to a growing burden of musculoskeletal disorders affecting the hand and wrist. Prolonged smartphone use involves repetitive thumb movements, sustained gripping, awkward wrist postures, and continuous scrolling or texting, which increase mechanical stress on muscles, tendons, joints, and peripheral nerves. These biomechanical demands may lead to hand pain, thumb discomfort, wrist pain, reduced grip strength, muscle fatigue, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, and functional impairments that interfere with academic performance and daily activities. This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the occurrence of hand-related musculoskeletal disorders associated with smartphone addiction among college-going students and to highlight the role of physiotherapy in their prevention and management. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect for studies published between 2016 and 2026. Epidemiological studies, systematic reviews, and clinical investigations evaluating smartphone addiction, hand and wrist disorders, and physiotherapy interventions were critically reviewed. The available evidence indicates a significant association between prolonged smartphone use and an increased prevalence of hand musculoskeletal symptoms. Greater daily screen time, higher smartphone addiction scores, poor ergonomic posture, and one-handed smartphone operation were consistently identified as important risk factors. Physiotherapy interventions, including ergonomic education, posture correction, stretching, strengthening exercises, activity modification, and patient education, have demonstrated potential in reducing symptoms, improving hand function, and preventing long-term disability. Early identification of at-risk individuals and the promotion of healthy smartphone use are essential to minimize musculoskeletal complications and improve the overall well-being of college students.