Constantly looking down at an angle places enormous strain on the spine and can result in permanent harm, according to a new report Are smartphones a pain in the neck? According to new research carried out by a US doctor, they are far worse – “text neck” is becoming an epidemic that could lead to permanent damage The human head weighs about a dozen pounds But as the neck bends forward and down, the weight on the cervical spine begins to increase At a 15-degree angle, this weight is about 27 pounds, at 30 degrees it’s 40 pounds, at 45 degrees it’s 49 pounds, and at 60 degrees it’s 60 pounds The posture we adopt as we stare at our phones, according to the surgeon, increases the stress on the neck and can cause excessive wear and tear that may eventually require an operation to correct it Dr Kenneth Hansraj says that although our heads weigh between 10lb and 12lb, as we angle them down to look at our phones, the effective weight on our necks increases – at a 15-degree angle it is 1about 27lb rising to 60lb at 60 degrees Read the text carefully Say whether these statements are TRUE or FALSE With smartphone users now spending an average of two to four a) The excessive use of smartphones causes brain Sammy Margo, from the UK’s Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, d) says she thinks “text neck” is on the rise “People carry out their e) lives by text, they get carried away and don’t realise they need a break.” Sammy alerts people for the bad consequences their damage hours a day with their heads dropped down, this results in “700 to b) People use their smartphones over hours a day 1,400 hours a year of excess stresses seen about the cervical c) “text neck” has been increasing spine”, according to the research This can cause “head pain, neck pain, arm pain and numbness,” she g) points out, because “a normal standing position is facing forward and all the curves of your neck and spine are in correct alignment But when you drop your chin on to your chest for a long period you are stretching the whole structure.” “Eventually, in conjunction with a sedentary lifestyle, it could lead to serious consequences.” d) She advises people to use voice recognition and make phone calls instead, and take regular breaks and alter their a) texting positions to avoid problems The b) NHS website’s Live Well section lists helpful exercises – including gently c) lengthening your neck upwards as you d) e) tuck in your chin It is not the first time we have been warned about the dangers of texting In 2011 it was blamed for an increase in pedestrian deaths in the US, with some towns considering the introduction of fines for 4people who text while walking “Blackberry thumb” – repetitive strain injury caused by texting – has been joined by “iPad hand”, a) aches and pains caused by swiping and typing on a tablet The list of ailments expands with every new piece of technology www.theguardian.com November 24th, 2014 Word bank: b) wrong use of smartphones can have on their health Phone calls are less damaging than texting This is the first time we are warned about the dangers of texting too much “BlackBerry thumb” is another good example of the use of technology h) “iPad hand” is the newest device 2- What the underlined bold words refer to in the text? a) she they b) it c) their e) who 3- Now answer these questions Which illnesses caused by technological devices are mentioned in the text? Do you know anyone with these problems? Who? What should people to avoid them? Are you addicted to texting? How often you text? Why does texting cause health problems? Do you have any health problem you associate with the use of technological devices? Which one? Fill the gaps with the expressions: text neck / iPad hand / BlackBerry thumb / mobile phone elbow / numbness If you’re sending lots of text messages, you may have one of the trendiest maladies – the Chatting for extended periods of time can leave you with a _ c) ailment – disease, disorder, illness / a pain in the neck – annoying, irritating / bend – move the top part of your body downwards / d) numbness – insensibility, torpor / spine – row of bones down your back / strain – tension, pressure / stretch - become longer or bigger e) A neck injury may cause you to feel _ anywhere along your arm or hand is the term used to describe the injuries and pain caused from looking down at wireless devices for too long To avoid the injury you shouldn’t use your iPad for long periods of time