Mobile Phone Reviews
 
 
Text maniacs get a health warning

Fri, 24 Feb 2006

Some mobile phone users send such a large volume of texts that they suffering from repetitive strain injury (RSI), according to a recent survey.

Up ten per cent of users who took part in the survey admitted to sending on average 100 texts a day. The result is injuries to joints in the hand, nerves, wrists and thumbs leaving people unable to work.

The survey commissioned by Virgin Mobile follows warnings about Blackberry Thumb or iPod Finger, that has seen over-use of these products to cause health problems.

The potential is that many millions more will develop RSI because people who text hold their phones in their fingers and use their thumb to press they keys. This action puts a lot of pressure on the thumb.

The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) is offering guidance to help those who text frequently to avoid getting RSI.

Dr Matthew Bennett spokesman for the Association said, "Chiropractors recognise that text messaging regularly, over a long period, could cause repetitive strain which may cause both short and long term injuries.

"When text messaging, the tendency is to keep shoulders and upper arms tense. This lowers circulation to the forearm when it needs a greater blood flow to achieve consistent movements of the thumbs and fingers."

The recommendations given by the BCA is for users to flex their hand muscles "to keep the blood flowing and break up the repetition, and vary the finger used to operate the device."

The BCA gave a warning last November to music lovers who use iPods that constant use of the scroll wheel or buttons on their MP3 players are at risk of iPod finger. This applies especially to young children because their bones and muscles have not fully developed.
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