Most people spend a great deal of time using their portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, tablets and electronic readers. Many patients report that after typing lengthy text messages and e-mails on their devices, they often feel discomfort in their neck, back and hands. Here are some tips on using portable electronic devices ergonomically to help prevent or lessen physical stress and strain.

1. When using a portable device, maintain proper posture for typical computer use: feet flat on the floor, shoulders relaxed, and your back supported by a chair.

2. Make sure your wrists are in a neutral position, which means they are not bent forward or backward.

3. Portable electronic devices are convenient for typing short documents; however, they do not promote optimal posture or hand placement for prolonged use. For extended use, employ a larger device primarily intended for creating documents, such as a laptop or desktop computer.

4. If you must use your tablet for an extended period of time, try positioning it on a stand and plugging a keyboard and mouse into it for typing and navigating.

5. For prolonged tablet reading while lying down, try putting your device on a pillow to bring the screen closer to you.

6. To decrease hand strain, use text shortcuts to reduce keystrokes and/or try a stylus. A stylus is held just like a pen or pencil and is lightweight, inexpensive and easy to use.

7. Hold your phone and tablet in the vertical position when typing to reduce the amount of space your thumbs have to travel to reach the keyboard.

8. You can also avoid typing, since most mobile phones have speech recognition features where you can speak into your phone and it automatically types what you say.

9. Make an effort to alternate hands when holding devices and remember to take frequent breaks with prolonged device usage.

To find an excellent doctor who is right for you, please call our Physician Referral Service at 866.804.1007.