by Dr. John Jennings
Recently there has been some buzz around smartphones and social and health issues. One of these issues is neck problems. This is assumed to be from users looking down at their phone all day. However, it may be unfair to blame all of people’s neck issues on their phones. There are many other activities that people participate in that can cause similar issues. So, before getting annoyed at yourself and your devices. Here is a list of other activities that may place your neck in a similar position to that of your average smartphone user.
Standing and Sitting Work Stance.
Sitting at a desk all day looking down at your laptop or PC screen will probably cause a strain or two. In professional offices staff are given a posture-safe chair and staff are instructed on proper CDU (Computer Display Unit) use and posture. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes staff will just have a regular chair and maybe using desks that don’t comply or fit with the posture-safe chair. This can lead to neck pain and strain from sitting incorrectly or even sitting correctly but not having a suitable desk with the technology to alter the screens height.
If someone is standing up all day, on a production line, looking down and interacting with products, which requires intense concentration, they may experience issues. This can come from constant movement and moving your head from side to side keeping track of product movements on the line. Even if the person isn’t moving their head, looking down all day may lead to stiffness.
Looking down at that cash register. When it opens and closes, the worker will be looking up and down moving their neck into different positions. It also involves concentrating and repetitive movements including swiping goods and barcodes and reaching across the till. This could be an invitation to pain.
In the Home.
It’s not only the workplace that may be contributing to neck pain. With both children and the elderly there is a lot of lifting and physical activity, not to mention keeping an eye on any toys on the floor to avoid injury.
Some hobbies can put enthusiasts in unusual positions. Knitting or sowing. People are on the bus in waiting rooms all knitting and sowing and looking down and focusing and concentrating on their designs, stiches and loops. Also, there is Monopoly and other board games. Staring at the game pieces, focused intently for hours. That can’t be good for your neck.
Posture
Sometimes it’s not even an activity that can cause neck pain. Sometimes it just sitting in an unusual position, for example, sitting with most of the body flat and your head propped up against the wall at almost a right angle.
These are just some examples of actions that if done improperly or overindulged in may lead to a stiff neck. There are probably more. So, if someone is suffering from neck issues, it may be wise to consider other lifestyle activities before tossing that smartphone out the window.
Dr. John Jennings is an educational theorist from Galway, he has a PhD in TESOL with research in Social-Media and Education. He is also an avid virtual runner.