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Smartphone overuse "huge concern" for health
- Published on Tuesday, 19 June 2012 15:05
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Users of smartphones, tablets, and laptops are putting their health on the line through overuse of their devices after they have left the office.
Research by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has concluded that people are becoming “screen slaves”, and said that frequent users need to learn to switch off their devices outside work.
The rise in portable devices has led to many continuing to work while commuting or even when they get home, which the society says could lead to neck and back pain due to poor posture.
The Society polled 2,010 office workers, and discovered that nearly two-thirds carried on working once they left the office. They suggested that people were adding at least another two hours of screentime on top of their working day.
The survey also indicated that demands for extra work from employers have directly led to the rise of out-of-office screentime, as well as less pressure during the day.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy said that the results of the research were a cause of “huge concern”.
Dr Helena Johnson from the Society said, "While doing a bit of extra work at home may seem like a good short-term fix, if it becomes a regular part of your evening routine then it can lead to problems such as back and neck pain, as well as stress-related illness.
"This is especially the case if you're using hand-held devices and not thinking about your posture. Talk to your employer if you are feeling under pressure."
Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said: "Excessive work levels are not good for anyone. Overworked employees are not only unlikely to be performing well at work, the stress an unmanageable workload causes is also likely to be making them ill.
"By the time someone is so overloaded they constantly feel the need to put in extra hours every night of the week at home, things have clearly got out of hand.
"Individuals who find themselves unable to leave their work in the office should talk to their managers and learn to switch off their smartphones."
