Fatigue fight

New York, Aug. 1 (PTI): Thumbell! A dumbbell-like miniature weight has been designed to help people exercise their thumbs and aid smartphone users to fight off fatigue.

A UK mobile service provider is encouraging textaholics to turn their thumbs into lean, mean pressing machines with their tiny new Thumbells.

The mobile service company and device provider O2 claims that over 26 million in the UK have complained of thumb pain within the last five years — after spending hours gaming, web browsing, and using social networks on their smartphones, New York Daily News reported.

“Our research shows that excessive usage of the phone can leave people with sore thumbs, so we want our customers to make sure their thumbs are well looked after so they can make use of all the great technology that is available at their fingertips,” David Johnson, general manager of devices for O2, told ABC News.

“That’s why we’re trialling the Thumbell units and have worked with BMI to develop the Fit for 4G fitness routine,” said Johnson.