Texting Trouble

© Copyright, 2009, PreventiCare® Publishing

Texting Takeover

In today’s high-tech world, phones aren’t just for

talking anymore.

Most of us are connected 24x7 to our email and the Internet through our phones …

which means that many of us spend a significant amount of time texting.

© Copyright, 2009, PreventiCare® Publishing

New Injuries

Being freed from our desks may have removed one set of

repetitive stress injuries …

but excessive texting brings with it a new set

of overuse injuries.

© Copyright, 2009, PreventiCare® Publishing

Texting’s Effect on the Spine

Frequent texting may alter the alignment of:

Wrists

triggering vertebral subluxations

Chiropractors remove vertebral subluxations with chiropractic adjustments.

ElbowsShouldersSpine of the neck and upper back

areas in the spine where movement is

restricted and vertebrae are out of place

© Copyright, 2009, PreventiCare® Publishing

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Cell Phone Elbow)

Cubital tunnel syndrome:

Overuse injury caused by frequent bending of

elbow

Actually a compression of the ulnar

nerve

Chiropractic is a proven and highly effective solution to cubital tunnel syndrome.

Which causes tingling, pain or numbness

in hands

© Copyright, 2009, PreventiCare® Publishing

Blackberry Thumb

Since most texters type

with the thumbs …

this is a common injury

site.

Symptoms of “Blackberry thumb” include pain and numbness in the thumbs and joints of the hand.

© Copyright, 2009, PreventiCare® Publishing

Arm, Neck and Hand Pain

A new study found that …

slouching over a mobile device

and

using only one thumb to text

lead to pain in the arms, neck and hands.

© Copyright, 2009, PreventiCare® Publishing

Preventing Texting Injuries

Schedule an appointment for a chiropractic checkup.

Take frequent breaks.

Rest the mobile device on your desk and lean against your chair’s backrest.

Use both thumbs, rather than one.

Shorten answers. Stick to “yes” and “no” when you can.

If you experience soreness, stop texting. Don’t work through the pain.

Massage the fleshy area at the base of the thumb and index finger.

© Copyright, 2009, PreventiCare® Publishing

Pick Up a Copy of the “Texting Trouble” OHU

For more on this topic, please pick up a copy of the corresponding OHU handout.

Look to the OHU for citations to research on this topic.

Share the OHU handout with friends, family, co-workers, etc. Just let us know how many you need.

© Copyright, 2009, PreventiCare® Publishing