A Novel Diagnostic Approach for Smartphone-Induced Finger Disorders: An Exploratory Study

Smartphone-related finger injuries are repetitive strain injuries caused by prolonged smartphone use. Despite the increasing prevalence of such conditions, few studies have focused on developing effective and accessible diagnostic methods. This study proposes the use of biomedical signals from the hand and fingers as diagnostic indices. Soft tissue stiffness and vibration frequency features under load are presented and tested as potential diagnostic indices. Testing revealed that the soft tissue stiffness parameter lacks reliability and suitable sensors, while the vibration frequency feature demonstrates excellent performance. After addressing several existing limitations, the vibration frequency under load emerges as the optimal diagnostic method for smartphone-related finger injuries.