Effects of Smart Phone Gaming on Hand Strength and Dexterity

Abstract

Background: Mobile phones are becoming an absolute need in routine life. Mobile gadgets have developed into a portal to a wide selection of creative and competitive activities. The ease of use and cost effective of mobile phones has led to an increase in their popularity of gaming in past decade. Prior reports show that students who involve themselves in gaming activities on mobile phones, spend approximately 3 to 4.5 hrs on the activity. Due to scarcity of information and need to explore the association between hand strength and dexterity among smart phone gamers and its consequences on functions of hand. Objective: To evaluate the hand strength and dexterity among gaming and non gaming population. Method: After getting consent 288 subjects were recruited based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria from College’s in and around Bangalore South for this study. Accordingly the candidates were divided into case and control group. The assessment for grip strength, pinch strength and dexterity using HHD, Pinch meter and Jebsen Taylor hand function test was done. The analysis of obtained data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics by SPSS. Results: There is a statistically significance association seen in grip strength, pinch strength and dexterity with the p-value < 0.05. Interpretation and Conclusion: There was a strong association existed between the hand strength and dexterity in gaming population compared to non gaming population.