{"id":19908,"date":"2022-10-04T09:27:18","date_gmt":"2022-10-04T14:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=19908"},"modified":"2023-03-27T10:05:07","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T15:05:07","slug":"is-your-smartphone-a-pain-in-the-neck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/healthcare-trends\/is-your-smartphone-a-pain-in-the-neck\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Smartphone a Pain in the Neck?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In many ways, technology has changed our lives for the better, but it can also prove too much of a good thing.<\/span> According to o<\/span><\/a>ne <\/span>recent global survey<\/span><\/a>, about 70 percent\u00a0 of internet users had increased smartphone usage due to Covid-19 lockdowns. The time we spend on phones jumped <\/span>17.7 percent<\/span><\/a> in 2020, and it\u2019s only increased since.<\/span><\/p>\n

While we certainly enjoy the benefits of our devices, many people have no idea that their mobile device could be the culprit behind many of their body aches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pain game<\/h3>\n

Using your smartphone too much can damage the whole package, from your bones and muscles into your joints. A few specific areas are particularly susceptible to stress from these activities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Texting, scrolling and talking<\/em><\/h3>\n

\u201cRepetitive texting and swiping places a significant strain on your hands,\u201d says<\/span> Dr.<\/span> John G. Westkaemper<\/span><\/a>, an orthopedic surgeon in Texas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pain at the base of the thumb is one of the most common signs of phone overuse. \u201cThe thumb joint has a great potential for movement,\u201d Westkaemper says. \u201cHowever, a constant swiping motion can lead to inflammation and pain.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, he adds, \u201cHolding a phone in an awkward position for a prolonged period can irritate the wrist and forearm tendons and may contribute to painful tendonitis<\/span>.\u201d You may be exacerbating strain here both during texting and talking on the phone. For instance, when you grasp your device for long periods, that flexing motion can affect the ulnar nerve \u2014 your funny bone \u2014 at the end of your elbow, which can cause numbness and tingling in the ring and\/or small fingers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Westkaemper recommends using Bluetooth headphones or placing your phone on a surface on speaker as much as possible, to avoid holding your phone in an awkward position.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Power in posture<\/h3>\n

New York-based chiropractor <\/span>Karen Erickson<\/span><\/a> says many folks exhibit poor posture when using their devices, which can lead to a whole host of issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One common pose: You might round your upper and lower back to look down at your phone without realizing it. This position places the head, neck and spine at an unnatural angle and could contribute to the reversal of the normal curve in the neck.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPoor posture puts stress on the vertebrae and the discs, which can cause pain and headaches,\u201d Erickson says. She stresses the importance of \u201cphone ergonomics,\u201d which she calls an ongoing commitment to <\/span>proper posture<\/span><\/a> when using a smartphone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood posture is not just a temporary measure, but something we need to be constantly mindful of,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to forget, and you may have to reposition and correct your posture several times an hour until it becomes a habit, but if you make these changes part of your lifestyle, your pain may clear up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Erickson also suggests:<\/span><\/p>\n