Claim: Arthritis comes from too much texting

Question

This claim is partly true. Arthritis can come from many different things but mostly comes from repeated movements and affects the joints used to make that movement. When texting, you are moving your fingers in a rapid unnatural movement. This causes strain on the joints and arthritis may develop overtime with age or genetic makeup depending on the individual.

Answer 1

This claim is partly true, but it’s not fully proven. Texting and other phone use can cause thumb and joint pain because of how much pressure and movement the fingers and wrists go through. Over time, that can lead to soreness or inflammation, especially in the thumb joint. However, arthritis itself usually develops from several factors like age, genetics, or long-term joint wear, not just texting alone. So while texting can contribute to discomfort or strain, it’s not accurate to say it directly causes arthritis.

Sources:

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/can-texting-give-you-arthritis

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/is-there-a-link-between-hand-pain-and-your-smartphone-use

https://orthopedicspecialistsofseattle.com/healthcare/symptoms/the-21st-century-thumb-texting-can-lead-to-thumb-arthritis/