Official News page 6

REAL LIFE NEWS: TEXT MESSAGES DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH

by Hazed

Everybody knows that if you sit in front of the computer for too long then you're likely to end up with health problems, from backache to eyestrain to RSI, but now it turns out that excessive texting can mess you up too. Sending a high volume of text messages can lead to serious physical injuries, including pain and discomfort in the hands, wrists, arms, neck and shoulders.

According to The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), young people are especially prone to suffer from text injuries. It recently surveyed 177 people aged between 16 and 24, and found that 34% of them send at least 20 text messages every day - which definitely counts as a high volume.

A CSP spokesperson, Bronwyn Clifford, says that phones aren't ergonomically designed for excessive texting and that "too much texting can result in pain and swelling of the tendons at the base of the thumb and the wrist." The organization has created a five-step guide to safer texting, which it hopes those addicted to sending the messages will follow to avoid medical complications. The guide advises texters:

• Hold the phone's screen in front of your face.
• Keep your hands close to your body.
• Use both hands.
• Take texting breaks.
• Exercise your hands, for example by stretching the fingers.

I knew there was a good reason why I have always avoided having anything to do with text messages!

Fed2 Star index Previous issues Fed 2 home page