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While we talk a lot about the damaging effects of excessive mobile phone browsing on mental health, it seems less is talked about the physical problems and injuries that frequently used smart devices can cause. However, in recent years, more and more people are turning to doctors with such complaints.
Experts say taking a selfie isn’t a dangerous genre either: it can lead to serious injuries and even fatal accidents, but excessive phone use is far more likely to cause chronic pain, reports The Guardian. Between 2011 and 2019, the number of patients who went to the doctor with hand or wrist injuries due to phone use nearly doubled, according to a new study.
And pollster Gallup pointed out that between 2015 and 2022, the proportion of people reporting excessive smartphone use increased by almost 20 percent.
One of the most characteristic groups of symptoms was given the somewhat strange-sounding name “texting neck”. The essence of it is that the upper back becomes stiff, which is accompanied by pain, even muscle spasms, local shoulder pain and even headaches. The problem is compounded by the fact that children are particularly at risk. During the pandemic, during the epidemic restrictions, most people spent more time in front of screens than usual – this period was therefore particularly favorable for SMS neck-like symptom clusters. Eye strain from blue light has also become a common complaint.
According to experts, the main cause of physical problems is that people assume unnatural postures while browsing on their smartphones. Normally, the neck muscles are not put under much strain if you maintain the correct posture. However, when using modern devices, users involuntarily tilt their heads to such an extent that after a while they overstrain their neck muscles.
Another problem is when someone forms a V shape with their elbow (or upper arm and forearm) while holding their smart device. In such cases, the nerves of the elbow are put under too much strain, which can lead to numbness in the ring and little fingers.
Unfortunately, the symptoms can occur in almost anyone, regardless of age or gender. If someone grips their phone tightly, they may experience tenderness in the thenar muscles of the palm (which may manifest as pain), but there is also a risk of tendonitis and ligament tears.
According to experts, the only good solution is for users to strictly limit the time they spend in front of smart device screens. Of course, many consider this to be too great a sacrifice. However, with proper posture and a little caution, you can avoid discomfort.
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