How to
Avoid Chiropractic Injury from Laptop and Cell Phone Use
By Dr. Holly Ruocco,
D.C.
The
advance of computer age communication has built new speed and convenience into
the lives of millions of people. Unfortunately, the new technology is also opening
the door for people to encounter new injuries brought on by repetitive
movements and bad posture while engaged in using these electronic devices.
Injuries
suffered by Internet users are known as Repetitive Surf Injury (RSI). Statistics
presented by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) show that in the United
Kingdom there are some 8 million people who use the computer while on the go.
Injuries have already been reported by over a half a million people resulting
in 5.4 million workdays lost to RSI.
In
Europe, the BCA has joined forces with Yahoo to alert people to the potential
health problems that could result from computer use. The aim is to get people
to think with better posture and to bring variety to the repetitive movements
used especially when operating a browser on a cell phone.
“As
chiropractors we are finding that when on the move, people are balancing
laptops on their legs so users stare down at the screen which in turn puts
strain on their necks, shoulders and backs,” said Dr. Tim Hutchful, chiropractor and BCA spokesperson. “Holding your head and neck in this unsupported position
can place increased load on the joints of the neck and reduce blood flow to the
surrounding muscles causing inflammation, stiffness and pain.”
Phone
technology with built-in browsers and smaller keyboards and buttons so close
together is also an RSI source, according to Dr. Hutchful. “Small, fine
movements tend to aggravate more than larger movements and this, coupled with
the smaller buttons, can lead to injury as smaller buttons are harder to
activate. These movements may cause a lack of blood flow to the tendons and
muscles of the thumb and may cause inflammation of the joint at the base of the
thumb.”
Here
are some suggestions for health and injury free laptop use from the BCA:
- Rest the laptop on a table, not your
lap.
- If you must use it on your lap,
change positions often and don’t just stare down at it with your head
unsupported.
- Sit in a relaxed but upright position
in a chair with the bottom of your back and shoulder blades both touching the chair
back.
When
using cell phones:
- Swap your hands regularly and vary
the fingers used to punch the keys.
- Massage your arm and wrist from time
to time.
- Flex your hand muscles occasionally
to keep the blood flowing.
With
laptop and cell phone use having exploded worldwide, it is up to the individual
user to keep a body free of RSI. Common sense approaches to good posture,
stretching and flexing can help.
Source: British Chiropractic
Association. “The Latest RSI Risk is revealed by Yahoo! and the British
Chiropractic Association.” April 2009.
http://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=47391
About the author: Dr. Holly Ruocco,
D.C. is owner of Chiropractic First
PLLC in Salem, N.H.
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