You are an avid iPad user and recently you have noticed some shoulder and neck pain or discomfort. You might have fallen victim to what is now being termed as "iPad shoulder."
* The risk of pain in the neck and shoulders stems from how users are holding the device. Users tend to hold it flat or vertically, but they should hold it in between these two positions.
* "The problem is getting stuck in these awkward postures for a long period of time," said Harvard School of Public Health's Jack Dennerlein.
* Those wishing to avoid pain and discomfort should change positions often and not crane their neck when using the device.
* "Researchers say using a tablet computer like an iPad in your lap can encourage poor posture. As you look down, that can put pressure on your joints and lead to shoulder and neck problems," reports WBAY.
* Neck and shoulder pain can often be alleviated through stretches and exercises targeted at the muscles in those areas. A health care provider can provider instructions on which exercises and stretches to perform, and how to best perform them. These will help to improve pain, improve posture, restore muscle function and increase muscle endurance.
* Medications are also an option when pain and discomfort in the shoulders and/or neck is at a point where it is interfering with everyday activities. Common over-the-counter medications are generally helpful such as acetaminophen or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
* Those positioning the iPad and other tablets correctly could face another issue. The researchers noted, "that this position may not be ideal if users perform a task that requires input with their hands. They believe more studies are needed to determine how tablet positioning could affect arms and wrists."
* To prevent arm and wrist pain -- while using a tablet in a position that is good for the shoulders and neck -- the user could opt to use a detached keyboard that plugs into one of the tablet's USB ports.
R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen began her career in health care in 2002, when she began nursing school. She is now a full-time medical writer with expertise in a variety of health fields, specifically trauma, public health, cancer, infectious disease, women's health, and research. She combines her education, experience, and passion for health and medicine to influence her writing.
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