The increasing use of cell phones is resulting in a new type of pain for some people, according to Dr. Mark Sobor of ChicagoHealers.com.
Neck, shoulder, hand and arm pain and similar kinds of repetitive motion injuries can come from texting and using computer keyboards a lot. Believe it or not, cell phones were not originally designed for all that texting.
Dr. Sobor said that people are prone to hunch over as they work, which puts considerable strain on their neck and upper backs. Most use only one thumb to type, causing strain to occur on one side. Also, repeated motions of some muscles deprives them of oxygen, which can lead to spasms.
So if you are one of those who is texting more than talking, there are some things you can do to prevent this kind of unwelcome pain. First of all, get yourself ready for texting by warming up and stretching your muscles. Furthermore, mother was right when she said “sit up straight.” Improving your posture while texting can help prevent pain. Try to put your phone or PDA on an area where you will not have to strain your neck and upper back by bending over to see the screen. Also, it is important to give yourself plenty of breaks. Between texts, put the phone down and get up and move around a little. As often as you can, open and close your fingers and stretch them. You can stretch your forearm muscles by extending your arm with your palm facing up and use your other hand to pull your palm down toward the floor. Hold this position for 15 seconds and repeat 2 or 3 times for each arm. Another tip to try is to use both thumbs to text and try to keep your messages short and sweet.