Good Posture For…Smart Phoning
Good Posture:
Standing, Sitting, and….Smart Phoning???
That’s right, good posture is no longer limited to standing and sitting – now it is related with smart phoning as well. Check out this graphic:
Courtesy of Surgical Technology International
0 degrees = 10 – 12 lbs
15 degrees = 27 lbs
30 degrees = 40 lbs
45 degrees = 49 lbs
60 degrees = 60 lbs
What is the solution?
Here the point is not that you should give up using your smartphone – anymore than you should give up standing or sitting. Rather is it a matter of awareness.
No doubt, when looking at your screen you may need to drop your chin. It is probably unrealistic to think that always you will look straight on at your screen. Just as it is unrealistic to think that you will never hunch forward again in your life. So the key then is to have the awareness to make the opposite movement. Just as you should do a backbend (spinal extension) after getting out of the car or carrying a load of gardening supplies etc, similarly after using your smartphone bring your cervival spine into an oppositional position, i.e. chin to sky, after you have been looking down at your screen.
At the same time, when using your phone try not to dig your chin too far down towards your sternum. Trying bringing the chin to a more neutral position, thereby relieving undue pressure on your cervical spine.
Safe and healthy smartphoning to all…it all starts with awareness.