Our bodies are made to move - not to maintain the same stooped over posture for long periods of time. Be conscious of the risks involved with excessive use of PDAs or cell phones.
Protect your neck
- Sit upright, keeping you ears over your shoulders
- Look down with your eyes and gently tuck your chin in, not forward.
- Never pinch the phone between your ear and shoulder. Using a head set reduces muscle fatigue and frees your hands fir typing and or writing.
- Support your forearms on a pillow during extended texting to reduce the strain on your neck and shoulder muscles.
Prevent Elbow Injuries
- Minimize the time you bend the elbows to hold the screen up to see it.
- Instead of returning all your emails on the phone, wait until you can use the computer.
- Avoid leaning on the flexed elbow while talking on the phone or in the car
Avoid a Sore Thumb
- Alternate among using your thumb, index, and a stylus, if available.
- If your only choice is a stylus, change how you hold it. Switch between hold it like a pen and holding it between the index and middle fingers.
- Several multi-tap pens are available at office supply stores that allow you to switch between pen and stylus tips. This is a good option, as the barrel of the pen is thicker than a standard stylus and requires less force on the joints and muscles.
- Minimize the use of scroll wheels as they often cause inflammation of thumb tendons.
As technology progresses, there is likely to be more and more tasks we will be able to complete on our phones. While it is convenient, remember to take a break and think about the effects on your body.