Almost everyone you know has a smartphone these days and these new gadgets have long been known to be bad for our health. Many researches have been done to study the effects of using smartphones but recently, a study conducted by National Taiwan University Hospital has found that there’s one position that is particularly bad.
A report by Apple Daily stated that one of the physicians in the hospital, Leung Wai Man said that using one hand to play with your mobile phone for an extended period will cause the most damage to your body. But that’s the most convenient position! Well, this convenience comes with a cost as it makes your muscles contract more and puts more pressure on one hand and the thumb.
As only one hand is supporting the weight of the device, it may lead to aches and pains in your arm and hand. Leung said that actually all of the positions have their disadvantages, which can cause harm to the body but using your device with one hand is the worst.
Hence, she advises that if you are planning to use your phone for a long period, it is better to use a computer to browse as it will cause less damage to your body. She explained that as many of us bend our heads to look at the phone, this increases the neck flaxion angle by 15 degrees and strains the neck even more.
However, the best thing to do when playing with your phone is to make sure that you remember to take little breaks in between to stretch your muscles and make sure your posture is good. Yang Changhao, the chief opthalmologist in National Taiwan University Hospital says that it is best not to face the screen too long as the blue light from the screen damages retinal cells and interrupts your sleep cycle. You know that right?
Pro tip: switch your smartphone to night shift to reduce eye strain and help you get a better night’s sleep!
Time to put down that mobile device and reconnect with people in real life!
Also read: Man Becomes Paralysed After Lying Down on Bed to Play with Phone Every Day