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It’s a movement that has become as natural to most of us as walking and breathing: The way you hold your iPhone is likely not a thought in your mind. You wake up, stretch, grab your iPhone, and check email, all before brewing your first cup of coffee. If you haven’t been paying any mind to the way you’re positioning your hands around your device, that’s probably because your phone hasn’t caused you any pain.
That’s a great thing — but it doesn’t mean you’re holding your iPhone the right way. And, as it turns out, holding your iPhone the wrong way can actually be dangerous to your health. Here are all the details you need to know.
The Wrong Way To Hold A Phone
So, apparently, our hands were not created to hold such small, thin objects like phones. And the way most of us are holding our phones — by kinking our wrists — can cause carpal tunnel, Dr. Steven Beldner, co-director of Northwell Health’s New York Hand and Wrist Center, told Circa.
Because so many of our phones have thin handsets, we’re also stretching our thumbs out in order to reach the screen, which can damage tendons in our hands.
There are a few ways you can change your position and the phone itself to avoid pain and discomfort — including purchasing a bulkier phone case than you might like. Beldner even recommends an old-school flip cover, which will prevent you from getting “Smartphone thumb.”
A Better Way To Hold Your Phone
In addition to covering your phone in a case that adds bulk to it, there are a few other ways you can avoid conditions like tendonitis in the thumb. Keep your wrist and elbow straight when texting and keep the phone far enough away from you that you aren’t straining your neck or wrists. Take breaks between texting and phone use — and give your hands and wrists a good stretch every now and then.
For more iPhone tips, check out 4 Things You Should Delete From Your iPhone Right Now and The One Reason You Should Never Use Your iPhone To Count Calories on SHEFinds.com.
Photos: Shutterstock
