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Standing Tall in the Era of iPosture
How technology is reshaping our bodies and what we can do about it
According to the Pew Research Center, it is estimated there are over 5 billion people who own mobile phones. With over half of the world’s population engaging with electronic devices, the spotlight has been on what technology can do for us, rather than what it is doing to us. Consequently, there has been less thought on what happens to our bodies while using handheld devices.
Recent studies suggest 19 year olds have the same physical activity levels as 6o year olds. What is more, the widespread use of mobile phones has materialized into varying degrees of poor posture. In 2008, Dr. Dean Fishman coined the phrase ‘text neck’ after examining a 17-year old patient who complained of head and neck pain. He observed the youth as she unknowingly pulled her head down and slumped over her phone while texting.
Later, a surge of finger and wrist pain became associated with excessive texting on handheld devices. The term, ‘text claw’ came about to describe the pain felt in the wrists and hands after texting on mobile phones for long periods of time. Initially causing soreness and cramping, these aches could potentially lead to tendonitis and carpel tunnel.
