All About Smartphone Pinky: What It Is & How to Treat It

If you’ve been online recently, you may have heard people talking about having smartphone pinky, which is a noticeable dent in the pinky that’s supposedly from supporting the weight of their phone, which can also cause discomfort and pain. But is smartphone pinky actually a medical concern, or even a real thing? We’re here to clear up the rumors and set the record straight. In this article, we’ll tell you what smartphone pinky is, let you know if it’s dangerous, and explain what to do if your pinky is bothering you. Read on to learn more!

Is smartphone pinky real?

Smartphone pinky is a casual term (not a medical diagnosis) that refers to a dent on the pinky from holding up a phone, plus any associated discomfort. The dent is not permanent, as the weight of a phone can’t bend bone or muscle. Smartphone pinky can be a real concern, as it can lead to pain and some nerve conditions.

Section 1 of 7:

What is smartphone pinky?

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It refers to dents and discomfort in the pinky caused by holding a phone. “Smartphone pinky” isn’t an official medical diagnosis, but rather a casual term people use. It refers to a temporary and normal dent on the pinky finger where someone holds their phone, as well as the discomfort, numbness, and long-term issues that can arise from repeatedly supporting the weight of their phone with their pinky.^{[1]
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- For instance, on TikTok, people post videos showing the pinky they use to hold their phone and the pinky they don’t. They report seeing a dent on their phone pinky but not the pinky on their other hand.
- Some people claim that supporting your phone with your pinky leads to a permanent dent or bend. However, this isn’t true. We’ll explain if smartphone pinky is really dangerous in the section below.

Section 2 of 7:

Is smartphone pinky dangerous?

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No—holding your phone with your pinky cannot permanently dent it. The general consensus from doctors is that your phone isn’t heavy enough to dent or bend your pinky finger’s bones, muscles, or tendons. However, it can temporarily leave a dent in your pinky, similar to how wearing socks can leave an indentation around your ankle from the pressure of the elastic band. Any temporary dents will go away once you stop holding your phone (usually after an hour or two).^{[2]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Any permanent dents or bends in the pinky are likely caused by preexisting conditions, such as calluses, breaks and fractures, clinodactyly, or Dupuytren contracture.
- Some people who post about having smartphone pinky actually have a condition that causes their pinky to be bent. For instance, in a TikTok video by @girlboss4lyfe she shows her “smartphone pinky,” but she also added the tags #broken and #dislocated, which indicates her finger may just be broken.
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However, smartphone pinky can cause pain or muscle strain. Many doctors agree that supporting your phone with your pinky finger can lead to discomfort, pain, or numbness. If done repeatedly, this may also cause stiffness, weakness, or a popping sensation.^{[3]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Additionally, it may cause muscle and tendon strain that can worsen grip strength, pinch strength, and general dexterity.^{[4]
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- So, is smartphone pinky a real condition? While smartphone pinky isn’t an official medical diagnosis, some doctors may describe it as a concern. It can cause real issues (like pain, strain, etc.) that may develop into real conditions (like carpal tunnel syndrome). However, research on smartphone pinky (and generally, how phone use affects the hands) is very limited.

Section 3 of 7:

Causes of Smartphone Pinky

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Smartphone pinky is caused by holding your phone with your pinky. Smartphone pinky is primarily caused by prolonged phone use and a poor phone grip. It happens when you mainly support the weight of your phone with your pinky and rarely change your grip. Repeatedly holding your phone this way can reduce your pinky’s functionality and grip strength, and cause discomfort, while not changing up your grip can lead to muscle weakness and pain.^{[5]
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- Luckily, there are things you can do to improve your phone use and treat smartphone pinky and we'll explain them in a later section.

Section 4 of 7:

Symptoms of Smartphone Pinky

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Symptoms include discomfort, numbness, stiffness, and weakness. Repeatedly supporting the weight of your phone with your pinky can cause symptoms like discomfort and muscle strain, pain, numbness, and a tingling sensation.^{[6]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} It can also cause stiffness, and you may find it difficult to straighten your pinky. Additionally, you might notice that your pinky finger is weaker, including your pinch and grip strength.^{[7]
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- You might also notice a temporary indentation on your pinky finger or see calluses forming where you usually support your phone.

Section 5 of 7:

Treating Smartphone Pinky: What to Do for Discomfort

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Frequently change up how you’re holding your phone. To reduce potential discomfort, pain, and injury, avoid using the same grip to hold your phone for a long period of time. For instance, every few minutes, completely switch hands or use different fingers to support your phone.^{[8]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- When possible, avoid holding your phone while you’re using it. If you’re making a call, use your phone’s speaker or use headphones. Or, prop your phone against something when you’re watching videos.
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Keep your wrist in a neutral position when holding your phone. To prevent irritation and stress to your wrists and hands, keep your wrist loose and straight when using your phone. In other words, avoid overly bending your wrist forward or backward.^{[9]
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- Aim to keep your elbow in a straight, neutral position as much as possible, too.
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Take regular breaks to stretch your hands and wrists. About every hour, put your phone down to give your hands, wrists, and elbows a break. To reduce any soreness or tension, do a few stretches, like:^{[10]
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- Forearm stretch: Extend your arm in front of you and rotate it so your palm is facing up. Then, use your other hand to push the fingers backward and stretch your forearm.
- Forearm flexor stretch: Extend your arm in front of you so your palm is facing down. Then, use your other hand to push the back of your fingers toward your body.
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Use a PopSocket. PopSockets are small circular objects that you attach to the back of your phone. The device pops out (hence the name), which allows you to hold your phone by resting the socket between your fingers. This keeps you from having to bend your fingers to hold your phone or use your pinky as a support.
- Plus, you can use the PopSocket as a kickstand to prop your phone up on a table while you use it.
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Spend less time on your phone. An easy way to keep your hands, wrists, and elbows discomfort-free is to simply use your phone less. Spend your free time doing something else, like reading, trying a new hobby, spending time outdoors, or hanging out with friends.
- To help manage the amount of time you spend on your phone, set time limits for how long you spend on certain apps and set aside specific times each day for checking your phone.
- Teen life coach Desiree Panlilio also recommends putting your phone in a different room and setting a timer to give yourself time to do other tasks.^{[11]
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  Desiree Panlilio
  Teen Life Coach
  
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When to See a Doctor

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Because smartphone pinky can exacerbate conditions like trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s important to visit your doctor if you notice any discomfort, pain, or numbness that doesn’t go away or gets worse. Your doctor can diagnose the issue and provide a treatment plan to help reduce your symptoms.

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Other Phone-Related Injuries

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Phone use can lead to conditions like trigger finger and carpal tunnel. While smartphone finger may not be an official medical diagnosis, holding and using your phone can potentially exacerbate real conditions related to tendon and nerve irritation. For example, repeated phone use can possibly cause:^{[12]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- Trigger Finger: Repetitive motions can cause the tendons in the fingers to get irritated and inflamed. This prevents the tendons from moving properly, which can make it difficult to use the fingers. Eventually, it can cause the fingers to freeze in a bent position.^{[13]
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  Mayo Clinic
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- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve in the wrist, which can lead to numbness, pain, and weakness in the hands and fingers. Repeatedly flexing the wrist is believed to put pressure on the nerve.^{[14]
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  Mayo Clinic
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- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: Cubital tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the ulnar nerve in your elbow. Like carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome can cause numbness, pain, and weakness of the hands, fingers, and elbow. It's often caused by repeatedly bending the elbow.^{[15]
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  Johns Hopkins Medicine
  Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital
  
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