Are gadgets affecting your posture and causing you pain?

Recent research by NetVoucherCodes.co.uk found people in the UK are spending an average of 9 hours online per day – that is 30 years in an everage lifetime.

Spending too much time in awkward postures whilst concentrating on your screen could cause problems. In fact, research commissioned by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) in 2010 revealed that almost a quarter (24%) of the nation complain of back, neck or shoulder pain whilst using or carrying gadgets.

Tim Hutchful from the BCA comments: “We all want the latest technology to keep us online as the web is, for many of us, completely indispensible but it is important that we recognise the potential impact on our bodies and learn to lessen the impact on pressure points with some simple steps”

The BCA has some advice to try to keep you pain free whilst surfing whether at home or on the move.

  • Try out new gadgets before you buy them to make sure they’re comfortable to use and spend time setting them up in a way that works well for you.
  • Don’t carry so many items in your bag all the time. Only pack what you need each day and avoid ‘doubling up’ on your tech i.e. camera and smartphone if at all possible.
  • The head is a heavy weight and sitting with it forward of your body puts unnecessary strain on your neck and back so always sit with your head directly over your body.
  • Avoid surfing and texting whilst walking as your lack of concentration is likely to cause some kind of problem!
  • If using your mobile, smartphone, laptop or tablet whilst sitting down, including on your commute, take the time to break position on a regular basis and stretch your arms, shrug your shoulders and move your fingers around as this helps to keep the muscles more relaxed.
  • When sitting in front of your PC or laptop, sit in chairs that provide full support for your spine and make sure your shoulders, hips and knees face the same direction. Avoid sitting in the same position for more than 40 minutes, less if possible. When you do take a break, walk around and stretch a little.
  • If you carry a laptop, use a rucksack design laptop case. Carry it on both shoulders and adjust the straps so that the bag is held close to your back.

Tone has made several Youtube films for you to watch or download, giving useful tips on how to make sure your posture is correct when sitting at your desk, standing or lying down.  Please click on the link below to take a look:

http://www.lucksyardclinic.com/category/media/

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