Smartwatches have become a must-have gadget for users who understand what they can do. It comes in a tiny package but does several tasks for you, substituting the need to use your phone. On the downside, controversies surround them, with users worried that they are a health hazard.
So, can wearing an Apple watch cause arm pain? Generally, Apple watches are safe to use but they can cause arm pain if you wear them too tight or over a long time. The pain comes from excessive pressure on the wrist that presses the nerves, causing pain in the arm. The chances are also high that smartwatches can make you feel numb when you don’t wear them correctly, which can escalate Carpal Tunnel symptoms in patients. Therefore, it is best to loosen their grip and take them off occasionally when not in use.
Buying an Apple watch is like getting a tiny computer around your wrist that you can take anywhere. However, if you are a cautious customer, you may want to invest in a product that you can fully benefit from and won’t affect your health. If you have heard stories about smartwatches causing wrist pain, read on for the correct information.
You will only get wrist pain after wearing an Apple watch if it is too tight or you have worn it incorrectly or for a very long time. Excessive stress in one place can easily press the wrist nerves and escalate symptoms in users suffering from Carpal Tunnel or other nerve complications.
The longer you have it on, the more you feel numb, and the tighter it stays, the more painful it gets. Therefore, experts recommend using smartwatches correctly and taking them off occasionally, especially when they get uncomfortable.
A quick search on this topic will bring up complaints from customers about their predicaments when they wear smartwatches. The issues and degrees vary based on the user. While some have an itching pain that transfers up the arm, others find their wrists sore, and others feel a pinching sensation. These reports are new as more brands get into the market, and forums are flooded with various complaints.
There is no documented research stating that smartwatches are responsible for these cases, although there are high chances of pain from improper use of the device. If you constantly have your Apple Watch on for most of the day, you will likely feel numb or discomfort. The wearable can place a lot of stress on your wrist if you handle other tasks simultaneously, and it explains why experts recommend that you occasionally remove them when not in use.
Similarly, if you have it strapped too tight, you can compress your nerves, resulting in a tingling or numb sensation after some time. While it should have a snug fit for proper vital readings, it doesn’t have to squeeze you or be uncomfortable. You can always loosen it according to its purpose. Moreover, such problems may be due to wearing the watch in the wrong place; it should be above your wrist, not directly on the bones.
Ideally, measure the correct distance using two fingers between the bones and the watch. The pisiform bone will suffer if the wearable is too high or on the wrist frames. Lastly, it is advisable to avoid excessive direct contact with the skin.
Sweat usually accumulates under the watch, and some users have allergic reactions to the band materials. Therefore, it is essential to try out various versions to confirm that the device you are buying doesn’t irritate your skin.
Can Apple Watch Cause Arm Numbness?
The Apple Watch is an excellent device that is a critical tool when used correctly. On the downside, users report them causing arm numbness or tingling effects. Therefore, should this worry you if you are a prospective user?
You will feel numb if you wear the Apple watch tightly on your wrist without removing or adjusting it after a long time. It constricts and compresses the nerves and veins on your arm, leading to impaired blood flow through the veins and consequently damaging the nerves further if you have preexisting complications.
You will feel numb and unable to move your arm, and sometimes, the feeling may transfer up to your shoulders. Occasionally, the numbness may not be from wearing the smartwatch but due to health-related conditions. You can test this by removing the watch for a while to see if the issue persists.
Wearing your Apple watch too tightly around your wrist may cause numbness in the long run. The straps exert pressure on your nerves and restrain proper blood flow—the compression damages the nervous fibers leaving your arm insensitive or numb. The condition may not happen on day one of wearing it, as it can take a few days where the wrist and the entire arm will feel heavy.
Numbness isn’t a minor issue, as some people believe, and it is essential to consult with your physician if it persists. There are chances that you may have Carpal Tunnel and you are blaming the sensation on the Apple watch. This illness also causes numbness on your arm, the same effect that a very tight smartwatch has. To avoid confusing the two situations, you can conduct a simple experiment to be sure.
Try removing your watch for two or three days, and if you still feel the immobility and tingling on your arm, you can confirm that you have a more severe health concern. If you only get the feeling when wearing the Apple watch, you can conclude that there is something wrong. Maybe your normal strapping is too tight, constricting your nerves. Once you see a doctor and get diagnosed, you can take medication for it.
The chances are high that the physician will advise against wearing the watch, which is understandable because part of the treatment will involve not straining your wrist bones or nerves. Many users rely on the Apple watch for everyday life since it helps track you when exercising, monitors your heart rates, shows GPS, and performs other tasks.
Therefore, wearing it improperly and getting complications from it will be a significant setback, and you will lose all the privileges if the doctor advises against it. To avoid numbness, you should loosen the band to release pressure on the nerves and blood vessels. If the immobility doesn’t disappear, you can try wearing the Apple watch slightly below your wrist. Moreover, you can avoid wearing the device throughout the day to let your wrist relax from the strain.
Should You Wear Your Apple Watch All the Time 24/7?
You cannot deny that the smartwatch has come at the right time in this fast-paced world. Like any other fascinating gadget, it is easy for a user to get addicted to all the fantastic things it can do and refuse to take it off. If you want to wear your watch all day and later, have it on while sleeping, you must have some questions about whether it is OK.
There is no harm in wearing your Apple watch to bed when you need it to track your sleep, but never taking it off is not advisable. Wearing it all the time can irritate the skin due to sweating underneath the watch and make you feel numb if you wear it too tight.
Besides, if you have any joint or nerve complications on your wrist, the wearable can worsen your symptoms. To avoid such issues, it is best to occasionally remove it unless when in use and wear it correctly all the time, not too tight.
Many users are concerned about radiation emissions from the watch and are avoiding wearing them all the time. Luckily, Apple has approval from various medical organizations since the devices do not emit excessive radiation frequencies.
Still, excessive usage prolongs exposure to the rays and can be harmful in the long run. Besides the fear of radiation exposure, other medical reasons are involved, especially the effect on your wrist, nerves, and joints.
If it stays tight the entire day, the stress it causes can make your arm numb or cause a tingling feeling that sometimes goes up to your shoulders. The pressure can also be painful if you tie it on your wrist bones over a long time. Excessive use will make you sweat underneath the watch and irritate your skin, which is worse if you are allergic to the band material.
Another concern from users is how safe it is to sleep with an Apple watch. Smartwatches are diverse gadgets handy for tracking your vitals when exercising or sleeping. They go a long way to monitor your health by collecting accurate data like heart rate while you sleep. It will also work for patients with sleeping disorders like sleep apnea.
Moreover, other users would want to keep them on all day to track their lifestyle, mood, and daytime sleepiness. Although the watch will be handy for all the above instances, it is still essential to avoid 24/7 use.
It is not safe to have it on all day and still go to bed with it. If you must, you can take it off occasionally for a while before wearing it again. While at it, ensure that it is comfortable and only snug enough to help track data.
Can Wearing an Apple Watch Cause Carpal Tunnel?
The wrist is very sensitive to pressure and needs proper care to avoid the pain that will limit free arm movements. If you love your watch and can’t help but wear it most of the day, you must be worried about claims going around that it can cause complications like Carpal Tunnel (CTS). Here is what you should know about this.
There isn’t adequate research to confirm that the Apple smartwatch can cause Carpal Tunnel. However, some users state that the wearables largely instigate it, and they have valid points because the apple watch can press down the wrist nerves, especially when the bands are too tight and are in place for too long. The only evidence from research shows that wearing a smartwatch can escalate the symptoms of users who already have CTS if worn too tight over extended periods.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that affects the internal wrist nerves, and other people may not detect it because it doesn’t show as bruises or swelling on your arm. The smartwatch can inflict pain when you wear it tightly for extended periods.
Subjecting the wrist nerves and blood vessels to such extreme pressure can make them swell and become quite painful, enough to prevent you from working or even doing tasks as simple as raising your arms.
Relaxing the Apple watch around your wrist may be the ultimate remedy for your pain. For the Carpal Tunnel to develop, the wrist must have suffered prolonged pressure in the essential nerves, making it necessary to remove the watch before things escalate. The users complaining of pain, numbness, or general discomfort when using the Apple watch might have a mild version of the condition, but only a doctor can advise accordingly.
There are high chances that wearing the watch caused a preexisting condition to worsen due to the straining of the nerves. There is a thin line between Carpal Tunnel and wrist pain caused by wearing a tight watch.
In both cases, you may experience unbearable pain, although it doesn’t go away immediately you take off the watch for CTS. Any expert will tell you to be cautious when wearing smart watches or any other wrist wearable to ensure that it is not too tight.
Thankfully, CTS is treatable, and there are personal remedies for each patient, as the doctor advises. On the other hand, if you fear buying an Apple watch because it causes the condition, note that you are safe as long as you wear it correctly and regulate how long you have it on. Otherwise, the Apple Watch is an excellent gadget that will go a long way to assist you in most daily tasks.
Wrap Up
If you conduct your research about Apple watches, you will stumble upon concerns that they cause arm pain and numbness. The good news is that the wearable is very safe for you as long as you wear it correctly and regulate how long you have it on. Any complaints you hear are likely from users who wear it too tight or have them on 24/7.
If you experience any numbness or pain, it is best to take off the watch immediately and check whether the sensation subsides. If it doesn’t, there are high chances that you have an underlying nerve condition on the wrist or arm, and the Apple Watch is only making it worse due to the pressure. Regardless, it is advisable to consult a physician on the best way forward if you have unbearable persistent pain.
