Is your Windows Phone a health risk?

By George Ponder
published

Could your Windows Phone be a health risk? According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (London, England) the health risk is a concern.

We've seen concerns over radiation exposure but the Society is more focused on neck and back pain as well as stress related illnesses that develops from poor posture.  Try as we may, we often end up hunched over our Windows Phones which isn't really good for the lower back.

A recent survey of 2,010 office workers conducted by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy which indicates that nearly two thirds of those survey continue to work on smartphones, laptops and tablets outside office hours. Society Chairwomen Dr. Helena Johnson views the results as a huge concern.

"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."

The survey concluded that workers are risking their mental and physical health by working more than two hours extra every night.

While the survey focused on time spend on our mobile devices for work purposes, it doesn't make any reference to time spent for entertainment purposes. Granted the stress of work isn't necessarily present when playing games or watching videos but the posture issues might be.

What brought the story stand out was that an HTC Radar was used to illustrate smartphone use. Which makes us wonder is it fair to group smartphones in with laptops and tablets? Is anyone using their Windows Phones for work issues for two hour stretches?  Outside testing apps and games, I typically use my Windows Phone to keep up with email, check a website, manage my appointments but only for short periods of time.  Any heavy lifting is done from a laptop or desktop.

So is this a legitimate concern or a problem that just isn't there as it relates to our Windows Phone?

Source: CSP.org (opens in new tab) Via: BBC (opens in new tab); Thanks, everyone, for the tip!

George Ponder
George Ponder

George is the Reviews Editor at Windows Central, concentrating on Windows 10 PC and Mobile apps. He's been a supporter of the platform since the days of Windows CE and uses his current Windows 10 Mobile phone daily to keep up with life and enjoy a game during down time.

25 Comments
  • Go to get mail from my mailbox is a health risk if some idiot runs me over. Every last thing is now listed as a health risk. Just dont hunch over. You can hunch over while eating broccoli. Is broccoli killing you?
  • Yes.
  • Absolutely.  Every person in the world who has ever eaten brocolli has died or will die.  Brocolli kills...eventually!
  • But I like broccoli! You just ruined my day. :'(
  • Apparently Ringo Star is a big fan of broccoli and he is in fairly good shape. I tried eating it raw with mayonnaise for a while and developed an aversion... Back to the topic, I have developed back pain whilst on holidays due to more tv + more windows phone + less time sitting correctly at work + aging. I use wp7 instead of a newspaper each and every day. Physio has given me stretches and things are now improving.
  • I use my phone when standing up or when leaned back in my chair. There's no difference between me writing on a piece of paper and me using my WP, concerning my posture.
  • Posture problems from Windows Phone? Here's a few things that came to mind as I read this.: Final Fantasy, Wordament, Netflix... I'm sure others have their own "Neck Pain" titles, but frankly, when I'm old, I'll wear my hunchback with pride. And maybe some grumbling about "Back in my day..."
  • cant be worst then siting at a Computer 10hours a day...... 
    back in my day, we had the same posture.. but we used books.. are books a hazard to your health?
    lol!
     
  • Books kill!
    I was going to say the same thing. Honestly any repetitive movement is not good for your body. Just stretch during long periods.
  • WIndows Phone and not the iPhone and Android devices ?
  • Windows Phone in this context refers to "smartphone".
  • It should read all mobile devices, Why Just label it Windows??? Talk about rubbish reporting.
  • Windows phone a health risk? No way. It has gotten me running everyday. Got me eating properly. Got me regular in the gym. It has been a health aid so far. And come on. Books can be a pain in the neck too. Last time I checked no one waged a war against that. Or conducted a survey for that matter.
  • If people have put as much effort in space travelling and colonization as in finding helth risks on mobile devices, we'd be blogging from Marsnet for a long time now. Mr. Cientists, go find cures instead of deseases.
  • But how will we know what to cure if we don't know the diseases ^^
  • Even sex could be bad to your health and I am sure that no one wants the cure for that.
  • Breathing can give you cancer
  • HTC wp turns off screen when put phone to your ear. Nokia does not do that. So people with nokia gets radiation.
  • My Lumia 800 can also do that. Have you even tried using a Lumia phone before making that statement?
  • The LG Quantum leaks the least amount of radiation of any smartphone...
  • I have issues with my back after dropping it so much.
  • I don't like how this article makes it sound like only Windows Phones are a risk. Seems like a poor choice to me.
  • There are risks with almost everything and someone has written an extensive paper on the subject somewhere. Its especially available if the device is powered by something. Having said that, I think these articles are well intentioned and seek to head off muscle injury and strains that seem to come out of no where. I've had them. So these health related stories fit and is part of this ecosystem. Thanks for dropping this reminder George Ponder.
  • well, Why would I matter so much about my phone. It would be my focus if its about my current health. I am hoping that someone would somehow would let me feel being treated so nice with love.
    thanks,
    Botox Montreal
  • the title seems legt. Pointing Windows Phones only eh? Even my little gaming PC can effect my eye..