Our daily lives are heavily reliant on technology, and we spend a significant amount of time using electronic gadgets to do tasks. This can take a toll on our bone health, producing excruciating discomfort. People frequently sit with poor posture when using cellphones, tablets, laptops, and televisions for extended periods of time. Excessive pain in the spine and neck may result in musculoskeletal diseases. If left untreated, it can cause excessive strain on our joints and bones, leading to chronic (long-term) discomfort and serious illnesses such as osteoarthritis.
Dr. Anup Khatri, senior Consultant- Orthopedics, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai and shared 5 bone problems that can be caused due to laptop and mobile overuse.
5 Bone Problems Caused by Excessive Screen Time
Carpel tunnel syndrome: Carpel tunnel syndrome is a disorder that results from excessive pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. Typing on keyboards or smartphones for hours at a time might induce numbness and tingling. Muscle weakness can make it difficult to keep a solid hold on objects or carry things. If left untreated, CTS can cause permanent disability and dysfunction of the hand/wrist.
Tech neck: Tech neck is the pain and discomfort caused by prolonged looking at electronic gadgets such as computers or mobile smartphones. When your head tilts forward, it exerts enormous strain on your neck muscles and cervical spine. One can experience difficulty in moving from side to side or up and down without taking additional effort. People shouldn’t ignore symptoms like stiffness in the shoulder, persistent headache especially at the base of the skull, and limited range of motion in the arms and wrist.
Spinal osteoporosis: Sitting in poor posture for an extended period of time can cause considerable damage to your spine. This can weaken your bones and make fractures or injuries more likely. People who are constantly addicted to their screens or electronic gadgets without taking required breaks or engaging in physical activity risk developing spinal abnormalities and pain.
Tendinitis: Using your hands on a keyboard or mouse can cause both pain and inflammation of the tendons in your wrist and hand. Tennis elbow, trigger fingers, and wrist synovitis are all possible outcomes. It is frequently ignored as a typical pain that will subside on its own. However, delaying medical care would only aggravate your symptoms, which will be followed by intense pain.
Repetitive strain injury (RSI): As the name implies, repeatedly applying high strain to your muscles, tendons, and nerves can result in a variety of disorders. It has a considerable effect on soft tissues, which contributes to bone problems over time. If left untreated, it might induce spine misalignment, indicating underlying health concerns including scoliosis or kyphosis.
Source:In