My phone doesn't even have a camera. Does that mean that I could get "Selfie Wrist" easier, because I would have to work a whole lot harder and longer to take a selfie with my phone?
Learn more about 'selfie wrist' - and why it's a real problem
Doctors are now warning that taking selfies can result in injury due to people becoming unaware of their surroundings. A review of four case studies conducted by researchers at University Hospital Galway highlights the risk of self-induced trauma caused by inattentiveness when taking a selfie. These injuries mostly occurred in the upper extremities, particularly in fractures along the distal radius, causing a new type of trauma called "selfie wrist."
In all of the cases reviewed, it was seen that the arm that was injured was the less dominant one, or the one not carrying the mobile device. This suggests that people are more likely to protect their phone (and dominant arm) when experiencing a fall or accident. Interestingly, none of the people reviewed were using any other accessory device, such as a selfie stick. All of them were trying to take a picture of themselves in odd angles or in public places and did not notice that they were in immediate danger.
For example, a 17-year old female fell down while attempting to take a selfie while running up a flight of stairs. As she tripped, she placed her left hand (the less dominant limb) to protect her face and sustained a broken wrist. She had to wear a cast for six weeks.
Similarly, a 40-year-old woman broke her wrist after she tried to take a selfie on uneven ground at a well-known tourist attraction. As she was adjusting for the "perfect" angle, she took a few steps backwards and fell on rocks. Her wrist needed to wired with steel pins for four weeks.