Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My science experiment is How does texting affect your thumbs? I have some tests, like speed and accuracy tests, but I need some strength ones. If you have any ideas, please put them here.

Hi!
This sounds like a really interesting project. Generally speaking, when you are texting, your thumb is in the same position as if you were pinching something, so I would say that you should go with a pinch gauge. Good luck!

Safety note: Texting too much may cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

Mia

I just had another idea, but the pinching one from Mia is a really good one. Since you use your thumb and pointer finger to pick up small objects, like quarters, you can test for the amount of quarters someone can pick up in a given amount of time, but this would be more of an endurance test. Also, in case if you choose to use this test, you don't want the amount of time to exceed 1.5 minutes because something called lactic acid builds up in your muscles which would throw off your data. If you don't know what lactic acid is, its a chemical that builds up in your muscles when you exercise, and its the same chemical that causes you to get cramps when you run, or even write for a really long time (I get cramps in my hand during my English quizzes).