Awareness of Repetitive Strain Injury of the Fifth Finger and Its Association With Fifth Finger Pain Among Young Adults Due to Overuse of Smartphones.

Introduction The widespread use of smartphones has substantially increased among young adults because of academic, occupational, and social demands. Prolonged smartphone use, particularly during texting, scrolling, gaming, and other repetitive hand activities, has been associated with musculoskeletal symptoms affecting the hand and fingers. The fifth finger plays a significant role in supporting handheld devices during one-handed smartphone use and may be subjected to sustained mechanical loading, potentially contributing to pain, discomfort, muscle fatigue, and repetitive strain symptoms. Despite increasing smartphone dependence, awareness of repetitive strain injury (RSI) involving the fifth finger and its relationship with fifth finger pain remains limited. Assessing this awareness and its association with smartphone use may help inform preventive strategies and promote ergonomic smartphone practices among young adults. Methods A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 188 young adults to evaluate awareness of RSI of the fifth finger and its association with fifth finger pain related to smartphone overuse. Participants voluntarily completed a structured Google Forms questionnaire that collected information regarding smartphone usage duration, smartphone weight, hand-holding patterns, awareness of RSI, and symptoms involving the fifth finger. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to summarize participant responses and evaluate the association between smartphone use characteristics and fifth finger pain. Conclusion The findings of the present study suggest an association between prolonged smartphone use and self-reported fifth finger pain and repetitive strain symptoms among young adults. Although awareness of RSI was observed among some participants, important knowledge gaps remained regarding risk factors and preventive ergonomic practices. These findings highlight the importance of promoting ergonomic smartphone use, encouraging regular breaks during prolonged device use, and increasing awareness regarding preventive strategies to reduce the risk of fifth finger musculoskeletal symptoms.