Not holding your phone properly in your hands can have harmful effects, experts say.
The dangers associated with using mobile phones are increasingly highlighted: screen addiction, sleep disturbance, bad vibes, etc. For example, it is recommended to leave yourself an hour without your phone before going to sleep or to leave it in a room other than the bedroom when going to bed, to charge it at night, for example. A lesser-known parameter is also important: how you hold your phone.
While there is not yet enough research to verify a causal link between hand or arm injuries and cell phone use, improper grip of the device can contribute to thumb arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome (tingling, impaired sensation and decreased strength), and even tendonitis.
So what’s the right position? The wrist should be held neutrally: it should be straight or very slightly curved, according to Lauren Shapiro, professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, who spoke in the Washington Post. “Bending your wrist, tensing it, or using a tight grip will put more stress and tension on your body,” she explained. Lying down, with your hands up, can promote this tension while reducing blood flow to your fingers, causing tingling fairly quickly. A sign that you need to straighten up and adopt better posture immediately!
It is also necessary to regularly put your phone down or use a support as much as possible, especially when watching films or videos. Similarly, it is preferable to favor calls over written messages as well as to use “hands-free” features thanks to voice commands. However, this technique is not possible for everyone: “For me, the worst movement is scrolling and it seems difficult to do with voice commands”, qualifies Hemrick Verwaerde, physiotherapist, for Tech&Co.
Using the phone lying down is also to be avoided: When purchasing, one criterion can be taken into account: the size of the phone. It must be adapted to that of the hand. Handles stuck to the back of the phone can help if the device is too big. That being said, you must be careful not to rest all the weight on a single finger when using them.
Holding your phone properly also means not putting it right in front of your eyes. Lauren Shapiro suggests a distance of at least 30 centimeters and at eye level. If the phone is held too low, it can cause neck pain. If you experience symptoms such as numbness or tingling in your hands, do not hesitate to consult a doctor.