“According to a new research from Jabra, a leading brand of hands-free communication products for the mobile consumer market, regular mobile phone usage is having an adverse effect on the health of the UK’s under 25s.
The research, carried out in conjunction with independent research organization, TNS, question 1,008 adults aged 16+ and found that 78% of mobile phone users, aged between 16-24, reported backache, neckache and headaches, which experts say can be a direct result of holding your mobile phone between your ear and neck while trying to do other tasks simultaneously.
The statistics show that over 18% of 16-24 year olds regularly make and receive more than 600 minutes worth of calls per month on their mobile phone, talking to friends, family and colleagues. This has resulted in 88% of those interviewed having to multi-task while on the phone, in order to be more efficient and make the most of their time.
32% of those surveyed stated that shopping was the main activity that they did while on their mobile phone. 28% said that they regularly used a computer while on their mobile phone. A further 20% stated that they did housework while talking. An additional 20% cook and 17% drive. Doing all these activities properly involves users having both hands free, which can only be achieved by users holding their mobile between their neck and shoulder.
“With people working longer hours than ever before, we have to efficiently manage our time and successfully juggle home and work lives,” said Andrew Doyle, Country Manager, Jabra UK and Ireland. “But, it is clear that there is a worrying trend amongst under 25s to incorrectly hold their mobile phones in order to do two things at once, leading to neck and shoulder pain and discomfort. Through simply using a wireless Bluetooth headset, mobile phone users can continue to multitask safely, without doing themselves any long-term damage.”"
With all the nice handsfree headsets for cellular phones nowadays, including the Bluetooth ones, I’d have thought these health problems would affect only a minority of people…
From Regular Cellphone Usage Affecting the Health of the UK’s Under 25s