Impaired hand function is a common problem in the young & old
Posted on 16 December 2017
Declining (inferior or subpar) hand & finger mobility, weak grip/pinch strength, and reduced manual dexterity skills are problems on the rise, occurring more frequently in persons engaged in the repetitive use of the new technology devices and from the results of aging.
New research shows that university students who most frequently use a smartphone are more likely to have an enlarged median nerve and to have impaired hand function and pinch strength compared with those who use their smartphones less often.
This negative effect on manual performance is not only limited to the young population or the overuse of devices since hand function also declines with age and inactivity.
These findings suggest that many of us may be functioning at a less-than –optimal or subpar manual task efficiency level since the quality of performance in daily living skills, work-related functioning, and recreational activities is determined to a large degree by hand function and manual dexterity.