Gone are the days when people were seen carrying around a bulky laptop or even a lighter version NetBook for their computing needs ‘on the move’. Tablet computers such as iPad, Galaxy Tab, Motorola Xoom and a whole array of options can be seen everywhere today. Whether you are on the train, tram or bus, or in a restaurant or university, lots of people are carrying these tablet computers. These tablet computers are the new ‘in-thing’ and everyone is buying one, or two! But with the advent of this latest technology we have also welcome a new medical condition, dubbed as the ‘Tablet Shoulder’ (or iPad shoulder as Apple fans would prefer to call it.)

A research team of Harvard School of Public Health, Microsoft and Brigham and Woman’s Hospital conducted a study and found tablet computer users are at risk of ‘Tablet Shoulder’ or ‘Tablet Neck’ (or iPad Shoulder/Neck) condition, because of the constant need to stare downwards with more concentration for long time periods which increases the pressure on joints and users hunch their back and neck a lot more than using a laptop or a desktop computer.

The research team from the esteemed Harvard School of Public Health (US) conducted experiment with 15 volunteers. The volunteers used iPad and Motorola Xoom tablets placed in various configurations including on their laps, on the desk, with the special carry/positioning cases hence changing the angles and varying the need to hunch to work on the tablets. During this exercises the research team gauged the head, neck and shoulder movements and positioning of the users throughout the time they used the tablets.

Volunteers performed various activities including internet browsing, reading eBooks, playing games, reading and/or responding to emails, watching movies – the tasks they would carry on their day to day use of a tablet computer. Researchers established the significant variation of movements and positioning of head, neck, shoulder, arms and hands of the users in all the variety of positions of the tablets. While the users who used carry/positioning cases had less discomfort and stress in their muscles and joints still had more tense and stiff neck and shoulders than a user would if using a laptop computer.

Those using the tablets on a desk had the least tension in their neck and shoulder muscles but it was noted that a long term use can be inconvenient for hand use for typing and cause RSI like symptoms. It clearly was detrimental position for frequent and continued input with hands. Study author Dr. Jack Dennerlein stated “Further studies examining the effects of tablet and configuration on arm and wrist postures are needed to clarify and complete the postural evaluation.”

He also added: “Our results will be useful for updating ergonomic computing standards and guidelines for tablet computers. These are urgently needed as companies and health care providers weigh options to implement wide-scale adoption of tablet computers for business operations.”

Which brings us to the question what can the users do in the meantime to avoid ‘Table Shoulder’ syndrome?  Some of the things you can do to avoid or reduce the likelihood of this brand new ache –

• Learn a few neck and shoulder targeting exercises that can help relieving the muscles in those areas, reduce pain and improve posture during use. It will also help in recovering from stiff muscles and gaining better endurance of these muscles.
• Medication is an option but question is do you really want to depend on regular medication of using a tablet computer? Short term it can be helpful but you really need to find the best posture that suits your body and work.
• Using external USB Keyboard can be another great option to reduce the pressure on arms, neck and shoulder but how conveniently can you achieve that during the move is also a dilemma.

In other words, watch this space as the research is being carried on and hopefully the tablet manufacturers will make it a priority to provide ergonomic solutions to reduce the possible ‘Tablet Shoulder’ syndrome. For those who may be interested at the time of publishing this article, Apple had sold over 15.5 million iPads in the last quarter of 2011 itself compared to nearly half that amount for the same period just a year earlier. And we don’t have the data on all other brands yet, so we are looking at much bigger an issue that we think it is.

the Urban Men, Worldwide team 

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