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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 "For every pound of pressure that you push at the tip of your thumb, it's magnified at the base of your thumb," Edelstein said. "Over time, this can lead to problems."
And it's not just the thumb that can get sore. According to the Swedish researchers, excessive texting can also lead to neck and back pain.
The researchers analyzed texting technique, muscular electrical activity and thumb movement using an electrogoniometer, an electrical device that measures flexibility, in 56 young adults.
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Half complained of neck, arm or hand symptoms; half had no symptoms.
Those with pain tended to text while hunched over, a position that puts strain on the neck and upper back muscles, according to the yet-to-be-published study.
"I think it definitely does matter what position you stay in," Edelstein said. "Hunching over is not a physiologically proper position."
Study participants with pain were more likely to use one thumb to text instead of both thumbs.
Heather Turkopp, a certified hand specialist and occupational therapist at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., said she rarely sees patients whose sole complaint is texting-related, though that may change in the years to come. Repetitive stress injuries can take years to develop.
"If you do something repetitive, it will irritate the tissues, inflame them and create pain," Turkopp said. "Employers are asking for more and more in less and less time. I would not be surprised if we started seeing more of it."
To prevent pain from texting, experts recommend:
- Avoid sitting in the same position for extended periods. Get up and take breaks.
- Pay attention to posture. When seated at a desk, your monitor should be at eye level, your arms should be bent at a 90-degree angle, your knees should be bent at 90 degrees and your feet should rest on the floor.
- Many people hunch over when texting because they're trying to see the tiny keyboard. To keep from putting added pressure on your neck and upper back, rest the mobile device on your desk and lean against the chair's backrest.
- Use both thumbs and give your thumbs a break when typing long messages.
- Stay active. "People who are more active outside of work and have good circulation will heal better than those who are less active and have poorer circulation," Turkopp said.
- If you experience soreness, stop texting. Anti-inflammatory medications such as Advil or Motrin can also help.
More information
Harvard University's RSI Action has more on preventing repetitive stress injuries related to computers.
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