Jacob Pina’s 5-inch thumb has captured the attention of the Internet, helping him to launch a successful YouTube channel and gain millions of online followers. His right thumb is just slightly shorter than the 6-inch iPhone 16. Around 1 in 10 Americans have highly flexible or stretchy joints — also known as hypermobile joints — but doctors have no explanation for Pina’s thumb. Though hypermobility has been linked to genetic disorders, Pina said he doesn't have any underlying health issues to explain his thumb. The 25-year-old said that while both of his thumbs can stretch abnormally long, his right thumb is slightly longer. Since his right hand is dominant, that also naturally ends up being the one he shows off more often on social media. One of the most well known disorder is Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (HEDS), a genetic condition that affects the body's connective tissues, which gives structure to organs and helps bones stay intact. Found in anywhere from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 20,000 Americans, including celebrities like Billie Eilish and Lena Dunham, HEDS leads to overly flexible and often painful joints, stretchy skin, and frequent dislocations. Marfan syndrome, a similar connective tissue disorder affecting 1 in 5,000 Americans, also leads to extremely flexible joints. Pina has not confirmed if stretching his thumb is painful, but he has noted a few advantages, including never losing a thumb war.
