Do You Suffer from Tablet Postural Slump?
Think about when you are most likely to use your mobile device...
This is usually in our own personal rather than work time ie: at home, on public transport or even reclining in bed and so we are more relaxed and will therefore spend longer checking emails, browsing the internet or just whiling away time on game apps.
Now think about your posture? Recognise a pattern? Normally we are sitting or reclining with a slumped spine, saggy relaxed abdomen, neck bent down and forwards and have at least one arm and hand holding the tablet in position. Some of us hold this position for hours at a time and not the recommended 15 minutes.
Classic Tablet Postural Slump:
- C-Curve Spine and Slump
- Neck forward flexion with slight chin raise
- Shoulders forwards and slouched
- Elbows forward with hands raised supporting the tablet
Symptoms of Tablet Postural Slump:
- Shoulder and Neck Ache/Pain
- Headache
- Wrist and Hand Ache/Pain
- Thumb Ache/Pain
- Indigestion or Cramping Stomach
Top Tips for Tablet Use:
Find something to rest your tablet on other than your knees. For example a bean bag cushion for your e-reader or tablet. www.ebean.co.uk
If you use your tablet whilst sitting at a table then try one of these:
Akasa Leo Tablet Stand
Where possible try the following:
- Adopt larger fonts to avoid flexing forwards more to read
- Have frequent breaks - ideally every 15-30 minutes
For children, it is really vital that they do not overuse hand held devices. Children need exercise to develop their spinal muscles and so if your child is an indoor gadget-mad kid then find them something they like that gets them up and moving. Tennis, swimming, netball - anything that can counteract the time they spend using hand-held devices. Limit the time using devices to a maximum of 30 minutes per day. If they do homework on a tablet, then ensure that they have a stand for it.
If you suffer from pain in your hands, arms, shoulders, neck or head after using hand-held devices, then you are possibly suffering from RSI (repetitive strain injury). At Kingston & Teddington Osteopathy we can help the body recover from the dysfunctional strain and help you return to better healthier movement. Please call the practice on 0208 977 6396 or email info@osteopathuk.co.uk for further information.
|
