London - Using a tablet computer can cause neck problems and shoulder strain, experts warn.
Unlike conventional keyboards, tablet touchscreens are activated by any contact with the skin, so users cannot rest their hands without accidentally hitting keys, US scientists said.
This puts pressure on muscles in the shoulders and neck, called “prolonged static muscle loading”, as they are kept tense and motionless.
The Northern Illinois University researchers found that typists using a touchscreen put more strain on the trapezius muscle, which is between the neck and shoulders and supports the arms, than when they used a regular keyboard, the journal Applied Ergonomics reports.
British physiotherapist Tim Allardyce said that over time the muscle can become shortened and tired, causing neck pain and headaches.
He recommends limiting usage of tablets to one hour a day. More than two in five UK households now own a tablet, according to Ofcom – up from just 24 percent a year ago.
Last week, US scientists said that craning our necks while texting puts up to four stone of extra pressure on the spine, which they warned may lead to “early wear, tear, degeneration and possibly surgeries”. - Daily Mail