Too much texting may lead to pain, study says

Hunched over their cellphones and handheld computers, people text all day long, thumbs or fingers busily pressing out messages.

All that stooping and digit-moving may have some physiological consequences, according to a study presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association in Philadelphia.

Researchers sent out a questionnaire to 138 college students, asking how many texts they sent a day. The survey also included a body map. It found a correlation between higher numbers of text messages and feeling discomfort in the shoulders. The association was seen more strongly in men than in women.

Though researchers say more investigation is needed, they said it might be a good idea to keep an eye on musculoskeletal symptoms among people using handheld computers.

"What we've seen so far is very similar to what we see with office workers who've spent most of their time at a computer," said lead author Judith Gold, assistant professor of epidemiology at the College of Health Professions and Social Work at Temple University in Philadelphia.

"The way the body is positioned for texting — stationary shoulders and back with rapidly moving fingers — is similar to the position for typing on a computer," she said. Repetitive stress injuries have resulted from computer overuse.

"Looking around our campus, you see every student on their cellphones, typing away," Gold said. "... it's important to know what the health effects may be, to learn whether it will cause long-term damage."