The Impact of Wearable Technology on Median Nerve Conduction Studies: A Comparative Analysis of Smartwatch and Traditional Watch Wearers

Aim: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy, presenting with pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands. Factors such as occupational and lifestyle habits, repetitive movements, and external compression contribute to its development. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between continuous daily smartwatch use and median nerve electrophysiological features, comparing it with traditional watch users. Material and Method: A total of 96 adult participants were included, comprising individuals who did not use any type of watch and those who had used either a smartwatch or a traditional watch for at least three months. Data on demographics, watch use habits, and Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire scores were collected. We performed median nerve conduction studies (NCS) and evaluated the combined sensory index (CSI) values. Results: Ninety-six participants were enrolled: 35 without watches, 29 using traditional watches, and 32 using smartwatches. Smartwatch users demonstrated non-significant but more frequent and prolonged daily usage compared to traditional watch users (p>0.05). No significant differences were observed in NCS findings across the three groups (p>0.05). While 13.5% of participants showed median sensory NCS results compatible with CTS, this proportion increased to 41.4% when CSI>1.0 ms used as a criterion. The CSIs were similar in all three groups (p=0.79). No significant differences were found when comparing the frequency of CSI>1.0 ms between watch-wearing and non-wearing sides for both traditional watches (24.1% vs. 31.0%, p=0.77) and smartwatch users (25.0% vs. 18.8%; p=0.76). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to systematically investigate the effect of smartwatch use on median nerve electrophysiological findings. Our findings suggest frequent occurrences of asymptomatic CTS-related electrophysiological changes. However, these changes were not associated with significant differences in symptoms or NCS findings among smartwatch or traditional watch users.