Neck Injuries With Phone Use

Did you know that misusing the telephone can lead to shoulder and neck pain?
If you’re like most, you probably occasionally cradle the telephone between your head and a hunched shoulder, talking and typing simultaneously – a sure fire prescription for pain.  
Poor positions such as this can increase the risk of nerve compression in the neck and shoulder area leading to pain in the neck, shoulders, arms and hands, and often headaches.

Here are some tips for using and positioning your phone correctly to avoid these problems:

• If you use your phone regularly during the day, place it within easy arms reach. For people who rarely use the phone, a more distant position is fine to free up space for more commonly used items such as documents.
• Learn how to hold your phone in a proper position against your ear – head straight and shoulders relaxed. Don’t cradle the phone between your head and shoulder.
• If you tend to use the phone for long durations, consider alternating ears on a regular basis.
• Or alternatively, consider an ergonomic phone or headset. This is often a better option than a speaker phone in a busy office environment, and being hands free, eliminates the risk of discomfort or injury.
• Stretch regularly during the day. Try and include stretches for your neck, shoulders, upper back and arms. Try to aim to stretch at least 3-4 times a day.

Find out more: Ergonomic Training