How to text message sans pain in neck, arms, hands (Getty Images)
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Suffering sore thumbs, pain in the neck, arms and hands owing to that constant text messaging to your girlfriend? Well, then you are certainly typing those messages differently than others.
According to a study at the Sahlgrenska Academy, young adults with symptoms in these parts of the body use a different technique when texting.
Ergonomist Ewa Gustafsson studied mobile phone habits among 56 young adults who text message on a daily basis.
Half of the subjects reported problems with the neck, arms or hands, while the other half had no such symptoms.
"Considering how much we use the small mobile phone keypads, it is important that we learn how they affect our bodies. We need to identify factors related to mobile phone usage that may affect our health and ability to work," said Gustafsson.
Her thesis has shown that mobile phone users with neck, arm or hand symptoms tend to use their mobile phones differently than seen in a healthy control group.
''Those with symptoms more often text messaged hunched over. Just like when using a computer, such posture should be avoided'', said Gustafsson.
She observed that those with neck, arm or hand problems have the tendency to use one thumb to text instead of two, thus using that one thumb with a higher speed and giving it fewer breaks.
''It was fascinating to see how fast some individuals could use their thumbs and still find the right letters. Those with symptoms should use both thumbs to reduce the stress on their hands, but these individuals instead use the single-thumb technique to a larger extent than those without problems'', said Gustafsson.
There were also differences in terms of work technique, thumb movements and muscular activity.
She assessed thumb movements with a so-called electrogoniometer, and the muscular activity through electromyography (using electrodes to measure electrical activity in muscles).
Gustafsson also interviewed 25 young adults who use mobile phones and computers extensively to communicate.
''These people use the technology as a tool to be and act in the present, to be social, effective and independent with almost unlimited possibilities. But there are also risks. Those interviewed related health risks to long-term usage, bad work posture and reduced physical activity'', she said.