Do You Have An 'iPhone Finger'? Know How Dangerous It Can Be

To identify whether someone has an "iPhone finger," also referred to as "smartphone pinky," one would need to extend both little fingers and compare them to see if there's a noticeable difference.

A new term, 'iPhone Finger', has recently been gaining traction and raising concerns among smartphone users. This term is basically used to describe a visible mark or indentation on the little finger, which possibly is caused by extensive usage of smartphones such as Apple iPhones. As per reports, tech enthusiasts believe that the little finger that they use to give support to their phones from underneath has a visible divet. That mark appears to differ from the appendage on the other hand.

One of the hosts of a podcast named 'The TJ Show', said, "The way we hold our phones sometimes with the weight of the phone resting on your pinky finger. It creates an indentation that actually changes the way your pinky looks."

To identify whether someone has an "iPhone finger," also referred to as "smartphone pinky," one would need to extend both little fingers and compare them to see if there's a noticeable difference. This difference may manifest as a significant indentation on the dominant hand, likely caused by holding smartphones frequently.

'iPhone Finger' Is A Health Concern?

According to a report by the NDTV, Despite concerns raised by tech enthusiasts regarding the pinky indentation, health experts have dismissed it as a genuine medical condition. According to the New York Post, Dr. Peter Evans, an orthopaedic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic, stated that indents or gaps on little fingers do not indicate a problem. He remarked, "They reflect typical pinky anatomy, which can vary widely."

Occupational therapist April Hibbeler and hand surgeon Dr. Michael Geary of Ortho Carolina also echoed Dr. Evans' perspective. Providing insight into the "musculoskeletal 'phenomenon,'" they mentioned that there is no official diagnosis for "iPhone finger."

Dr. Evans added, "It's also possible that people who think they have smartphone pinky could have an underlying condition. Constant cellphone use can cause a range of joint problems. While some claims of injury might be overstated, others are real and involve serious, long-term damage."

According to the NDTV report, Dr. Evans cautioned about potential medical issues such as clinodactyly, a genetic finger anomaly that causes the pinky tip to bend toward the ring finger.