Smartphone-Based Activities Exposure as Risk Factors for De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis in Young Adults of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Smartphone use is widespread among young adults, requiring repetitive thumb motion, sustained gripping, and prolonged wrist postures. These biomechanical demands are associated with upper limb overuse disorders, including de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Objective: To assess the prevalence of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis among young adults and explore its relationship with smartphone usage patterns, while accounting for key demographic and lifestyle variables. Methodology: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 726 young adults aged 18–30 years from educational institutions and community settings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis was diagnosed using the Wrist Hyperflexion and Abduction of the Thumb and Finkelstein tests. Smartphone exposure was measured by daily usage duration, activity type, and total use, alongside demographic factors. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic characteristics and smartphone use patterns, while the prevalence of DQT was calculated as a proportion with 95% confidence intervals. Group comparisons were performed using independent t-tests, while adjusted associations were evaluated through binary logistic regression, controlling for age, gender, body mass index, hand dominance, and overall smartphone exposure. Results: Participants with a mean age of 23.1±3.4 years reported an average daily smartphone use of 6.2±2.1 hours. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis prevalence was 58.7% (426/726). Those with de Quervain’s tenosynovitis had higher daily smartphone use (7.1 vs 4.9 hours, p<0.001) and more time chatting, gaming, and scrolling (p<0.001). Adjusted analysis revealed that sustained smartphone use (≥6 h/day), prolonged chatting (≥5 h/day), gaming (≥4 h/day), scrolling (≥4 h/day), higher BMI, right-handedness, and longer smartphone ownership remained independently associated with tenosynovitis  (p<0.05). These findings underscore the impact of activity-specific smartphone use and demographic factors on de Quervain’s tenosynovitis risk among young adults. Conclusion: De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is independently associated with prolonged, activity-specific smartphone use. Findings highlight the need for early screening and preventive strategies targeting smartphone-related overuse in physical therapy and rehabilitation.