The iPad Is Hot, but Will It Be a Pain in the Neck? by Marilynn Preston on Creators.com

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The iPad Is Hot, but Will It Be a Pain in the Neck?

So what if the iPad sounds like Apple's attempt to digitize menstrual flow. No woman CEO would have named it that, but now the Third Device is finally here, it's beautifully designed, and we are super-absorbed in iPad-mania. The world is waiting to touch it, hold it, try it and maybe even buy it.

So many questions swirling in my brain: Will the 10-inch man purse make a comeback? Can the iPad reverse the downward slide of newspapers and magazines and deliver the miracle of paying for content? And how long must we wait before the iPad snaps photos, shoots video, improves our tennis swing?

Sadly, one more question comes to mind: What is this revolutionary and adorable device going to do to our necks, shoulders and backs as we hunch over it 6-8-10 hours a day?

Of course, that's not Apple's problem. They're just doing their Jobs. And I'm sure they'll include a classy stand for your iPad, with ergonomically correct instructions for proper use.

The rest will be up to us, the consumers, and that's where the trouble starts. Millions of us spend way too many hours awkwardly poised over big- or small-screen technology. We don't think about our overuse, body abuse or poor posture. We just let it happen, and as a result, over time, our lower backs scream, our necks ache, our shoulders freeze, and our energy leaks into our socks. And still, we carry on mindlessly until the day we're too miserable to continue and we wind up needing painkillers, doctors and expensive medical care.

iPad hunching equals spinal crunching. But wait! It's not inevitable. You can prevent iPad pathology and all its digital forefathers with conscious effort and body awareness. Self-care is the best care. Repeat that healthy lifestyle mantra at least three times a day. And while you're doing that, do this:

Check Out Your Chair: A bad chair is worse than a bad divorce, and is a leading cause of overuse injuries. One size does NOT fit all. Adjust yours for strong support to your lower back (lumbar spine). If your chair isn't adjustable, place a rolled-up towel at your lower back or get a lumbar support pillow.

The front of the seat should not press against the back of your knee or lower leg. Adjust the armrest by relaxing your arms to your sides and bending your elbows to a 90-degree angle, setting your forearm support there. Adjust the seat height so your feet are resting comfortably on the floor. Dangling feet are a no-no. Get a footrest, if necessary.

Align With Your Keyboard: Your computer keyboard should line up with your wrists, as your arms come to rest at that 90 degree angle. Typing with your wrists arched up or sinking down, over time, causes painful overuse issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Keyboard drawers can be helpful. Keep this proper alignment in mind when you type on any virtual keyboard, too. Adjust as necessary. To avoid repetitive thumb injuries, limit your texting. If you're addicted to the technology and driven to overuse, get help.

Be Aware of Your Body in Relation to the Screen: In an ideal world, the monitor you're reading should be at eye level, so you don't have to bend your head or strain your neck to read it. So take a moment to notice your alignment, externally and internally, as you position yourself to the screen: Is your right hip in line with your left hip, or are you twisted, with more pressure on one side of your body than the other? Are you sitting tall, heart open, vertebras neatly stacked, or is your chest constricted and collapsed? Are your shoulders relaxed, your head and neck in balance at the top of your spine?

This is only a start. You also need to take body breaks during the day. Taking a few minutes here and there to do some simple stretching and strengthening exercises goes a long way toward relieving muscle tension and relaxing your brain.

What stress prevention exercises should you be doing? Fortunately, there's an App for that.

ENERGY EXPRESS-O! ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT IPAD-ITIS

"It is easy to sit up and take notice; what is difficult is getting up and taking action." — Al Batt

Marilynn Preston — fitness expert, personal trainer and speaker on healthy lifestyle issues — is the creator of Energy Express, the longest-running syndicated fitness column in the country. She has a website, http://marilynnpreston.com and welcomes reader questions, which can be sent to MyEnergyExpress@aol.com. To find out more about Preston and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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