Smart Smartphone Usage Tips to Prevent Injury

by Kevin Smith Author

The size and shape of phones has evolved from year to year and they are no longer the large heavy rotary dialers that we once knew. Nowadays, everywhere you go, you pass people who are holding essentially handheld computers. They’re taking selfies, and with a flick of the wrist they’re switching from portrait to landscape mode. They’re texting and emailing their friends, working their thumbs with intense fervor. And it’s making orthopedic surgery specialists in Long Island, NY, cringe.

Though the technology to allow people to do these actions quickly has evolved, the human body has not. Like it or not, your body hasn’t yet evolved to make the constant typing, twisting, and bending you’re doing with your hands thousands of times throughout the day more comfortable. With that in mind, here are some things that you can do to make this easier on your relatively delicate joints and reduce the risk of injury.

Keep Messages Short

Whenever possible, keep your text messages short or use voice to text. If you really want to go easy on your wrists and hands, call the person you’re texting with on the phone the old-fashioned way. If you’re driving, put your phone down and wait until you’re at your destination to text or call. This is the law in many areas and has far more severe repercussions than joint pain and injuries.

Use Smart Swipe Instead

Believe it or not, the action of typing with your thumbs puts a lot of undue strain on the joints in your fingers and hands. It’s much better for your hands to use the swipe feature on your phone if available instead of typing.

Put the Phone Down to Text

It may seem counterproductive but it’s not: putting the phone down to text with both hands is better for your joints than holding the phone in both hands and is much better for your hands than texting with one hand. The best option would be to put the phone down on the table or countertop and use voice to text to send messages.

Whether you realize it or not, the way you’re using your cell phone is not doing your joints any favors. Using your cell phone in a more ergonomic way can save you from significant joint pain and may even prevent serious hand injuries. If you have pain in your hand for any reason, it’s important to seek orthopedic care right away. Any orthopedic surgery specialists in Long Island, NY, can tell you that sometimes even the seemingly most insignificant actions that do significant damage.