"Texting Thumb" and "iPad® Neck

Smartphones, iPads® and other mobile devices can enable office workers to have a flexible working environment away from the office. However, these handheld devices are not ergonomically designed and can be the cause of repetitive stress injuries and musculoskeletal strains if they are used frequently and with poor body positioning.

Texting thumb is another name for the repetitive stress injury that can occur from continuous movements of the thumb and wrist while text messaging. The enormous increase in text messaging means that texting thumb is becoming one of the most common ailments seen by hand specialists.

You often see people bent over their iPad® or similar tablet device while it is in their lap or lying flat on a table. They may also be holding the device one-handed for long periods of time. This puts workers at risk for shoulder or neck pain because of the increased strain on the muscles, nerves, tendons, and discs in the neck and upper spine. Some physicians refer to this as "iPad® neck."

To learn more about Office Ergonomics visit our Office Ergonomics Online Training web page.