With all the news these days about mHealth improving the healthcare delivery process, now comes a study that indicates technology may actually be causing a few aches and pains.
A study commissioned by LUMO BodyTech and conducted by Harris Interactive indicates that 60 percent of Americans report health problems caused by too much use of technology. The most common symptoms of "Silicon Valley Syndrome," say researchers, are back and neck pain and eye strain associated with sitting too long at a desk or staring at a computer, tablet or mobile device screen.
What's more, researchers are noting an increase in eye strain related to peering at smaller screens (on tablets and smartphones), as well as an increase in upper back, neck and shoulder pain related to using mobile devices while walking.
Not to mention those occasional incidents of tripping over a curb, falling into a water fountain or walking into a wall.
The survey was taken in September among 2,019 U.S. adults age 18 and older.
“At LUMO, our mantra is that you can’t improve what you don’t measure,” said Monisha Perkash, co-founder and CEO of the Palo Alto, Calif.-based developer of posture and movement feedback solutions, in a press release. “Because our mission is to improve the health of humanity in this digital era, we think it’s critically important for everyone who uses technology gadgets – at home and at work – to understand what this data says about technology and our health and to use this data as a call to action to adopt healthier tech usage habits.”
“Technology is not evil – in fact, it has made all of our lives easier and more enjoyable,” added co-founder Charles Wang in the release. “But if we continue the trajectory this survey reveals of abusing technology to the detriment of our health, as usage continues to increase, it will become increasingly critical that we use it mindfully. Otherwise, we could be in for a series of pandemic-level health crises over the next 20 or 30 years.”
Wang, a psychiatrist, also sees the emotional side-effects of too much technology. In an interview with mHealthNews, he said technology is tied to productivity, which in the business world is a good thing. But "when we focus on screens, we lose track of focusing on each other," he said. "We lose that art of knowing how to relate to people."
That, he said, could have dire ramifications in healthcare, which relies on the connection between the doctor and a patient.
"When you stop making those types of meaningful connections (because you're looking at a device instead of a person), there could be some serious problems," he said.
While Perkash and Wang talk about the follies of technology, they also have an mHealth-related answer: the LUMOback, a belt-like sensor that is worn around the waist and connects to a smartphone app. Wang says the device – the company's first product – tracks posture and movement and can be used to help people improve their posture and avoid back, neck and shoulder pain.
"You can use technology to basically combat technology," said Wang, who adds that "sitting is the next smoking" in the nation's lexicon of bad habits. He said the Lumoback offers real-time feedback on posture issues, and even triggers vibrators that can alert a user to change his or her position.
"Our company's really about giving the body a voice," he added.
