Evaluating Grip Strength and Hand Performance among School - Going Children Who Use Smartphones: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This study investigated the interaction effects between high frequency smartphone use and its effect on handgrip, pinch strengths, and functional hand performance in children. [Participants and Methods] A total of 240 school going children aged between 9 and 15 were taken in this study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Minimum of 2-3 hours of smartphone use since 2 years daily was considered. A hand dynamometer and pinch gauge were used to measure handgrip and pinch strength respectively. Smartphone Addiction scale was used to identify smartphone addicts. Abilhand ABILHANDKIDS Questionnaire - English version was used to assess hand function [Results] The results indicated that a longer duration of average daily smartphone usage was related and contributed to a weaker hand-grip and pinch-grip strength. Motor functions were likely to be affected [Conclusion] Results indicated that high levels of smartphone use diminished hand and pinch-grip strengths as well as and hand function. The effects of smartphone use frequency on grip and hand-pinches strengths were not the same for the dominant and non-dominant hands; the non-dominant hand expressed low values for all four strength variables among high-frequency smartphone users. Majority of children were found to be addicted to smartphone.