 "Your smartphone is accelerating ageing and making musculoskeletal pain worse, shows study")
While smartphones are notorious for causing eye strain and messing with our mental focus, a new burning question has cropped up: could they also be speeding up the ageing process?
Well, a recent research paper is pointing to a troubling link between smartphone addiction and musculoskeletal pain, a condition that is often associated with ageing.
A recent study titled “Smartphone Addiction and its Impact on Musculoskeletal Pain” has flagged some concerning links between extended phone use and pain in the neck, shoulders, elbows, and hands.
Smartphones wreaking havoc
Conducted by researchers in Bangladesh and India, the paper specifically looked at how being glued to our phones impacts us physically. And it seems our beloved gadgets are not just bad news for our psyches but for our bodies too.
The study involved 326 college students, all aged between 18 and 30, who were put through a series of assessments. Tools like the Smartphone addiction scale-short form (SAS-SF), Shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), Neck disability index (NDI), Oxford elbow score (OEC), and Cornell Hand Discomfort Questionnaire (CHDQ) and several others were used to measure how phone addiction translated into physical pain.
The results were disturbing, to say the least. A whopping 43.3 per cent of these young adults reported neck pain, and 42.9 per cent were suffering from shoulder pain. Meanwhile, 27.9 per cent experienced elbow discomfort.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWhat’s even more shocking is that 69.2 per cent of the participants were considered moderately to severely addicted to their smartphones. And it wasn’t just one body part taking the hit — the pain was widespread, shifting from neck to hand and elbow.
How increased phone usage leads to musculoskeletal pain
So, how does your smartphone wreak this havoc on your body? Well, it mainly comes down to poor posture. Long hours of screen time force users into a forward head position, which strains the cervical spine and leads to persistent neck pain.
Add to that the muscle tension from constantly holding your phone or using your thumbs for texting, and you’ve got a recipe for sore shoulders, elbows, and even wrist injuries. The repetitive thumb movements and the unnatural angles at which we bend our wrists while tapping away are no joke, potentially leading to long-term musculoskeletal issues.
Ignoring these pains could come with serious consequences, like chronic conditions that drastically lower your quality of life. With smartphone addiction only growing, researchers suggest better ergonomic awareness and regular breaks to keep things from escalating.
Avoiding smartphone-induced musculoskeletal pain
Cutting out smartphones is unrealistic. But there are ways to minimise the damage. Start with your posture: holding your phone at eye level, with your head up and shoulders back, can make a world of difference. When watching movies on your device, invest in a phone stand to keep it at a comfortable angle.
Also, don’t forget the eyes. The 20-20-20 rule is your new best friend: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This simple trick helps reset and relax your eyes, reducing the risk of headaches and eye strain. Also, keep your screen brightness matched to your surroundings and blink often to avoid dry eyes.
And, your hands need care too. Repetitive actions like texting can result in thumb tendonitis while holding the phone close to your ear can give you “cell phone elbow.” Mix things up during long calls by switching ears or using headphones. Also, use both hands to ease the strain on your thumbs when you’re texting extensively and try to keep your wrists straight to ward off joint inflammation.
So, if your smartphone is giving you more than just a mental workout, it’s time to take action. Better habits and posture adjustments could save you a world of pain — and maybe even keep you feeling younger.
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