Do you experience elbow pain or discomfort in your neck? Often, the cause is a mobile phone.
“The human body is not designed for prolonged forward bending and holding a phone all day,” notes physiotherapist Jaime Quinn. Below are five types of pain associated with active phone use and tips for alleviating them.
1. Thumb Pain
Many people use their thumbs for typing or scrolling the screen. Despite the replacement of physical keyboards with touchscreens, the strain on the thumb remains high. How to fix it: try using other fingers for typing. If the pain persists, consult a doctor.
2. Neck Pain
The cause is the forward tilt when viewing or writing messages. Dr. Kenneth K. Hansraj explains that looking down creates significant pressure on the spine, which over time leads to muscle spasms and even changes in bone structure. How to fix it: keep the phone at eye level, do not tilt your head. You can look down with your eyes rather than your head.
3. Elbow Pain
Prolonged holding of the elbow in a bent position strains the nerve endings, while a fixed wrist position while typing increases the load on the forearm muscles. How to fix it: switch hands when using the phone to reduce strain on the elbows and wrists.
4. Back Pain
Bending the neck and shoulders forward while using the phone leads to compression of the front muscles and stretching of the back muscles, causing muscle imbalance and tension. How to fix it: pay attention to your posture, keep your back straight, shoulders slightly back, and consciously avoid slouching.
5. Wrist Pain
Prolonged wrist flexion causes pressure on the tendons and painful sensations. How to fix it: switch hands when working with the phone, and whenever possible, use a computer or laptop with a comfortable keyboard for typing messages.
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