Talking on your mobile phone affects your workout and health

These days we can’t stay without our mobile phones. They have become indispensable as we get more reliant on our phones, making it hard for us to just switch them off during some activities.

But there are times when we really should not be paying attention to our phones – driving is one such activity which requires our complete attention. And another is exercise.

Talking and texting on the phone, divides your attention between two tasks and disrupts postural stability and balance.

Yes, looking at your phone, texting or talking on your phone while exercising can do you more harm than good.

In a first of its kind study, researchers from Bloomsberg University of Pennsylvania revealed that talking or texting on the phone will reduce the intensity of your exercise and will affect your postural balance during everyday activities.

While exercising, talking or texting on your phone divides your attention between the two tasks, resulting in a reduced intensity workout and disruption of postural stability that can lead to risks such as falls and musculoskeletal injuries.

45 college students participated in this trial. They were put through four cell phone conditions – talking, texting, listening to music and control.

Postural stability was measured on the Biodex Balance System SD. During the postural stability tests, participants completed three, 20–s trials for each condition interspersed with 10-s rest interval between each trial and a five minute rest interval between each condition.

Postural stability was found to be significantly worse during texting compared to talking, music and control. Postural stability was found to be worse while talking compared to music and control conditions while music and control conditions did not significantly change.

The researchers concluded that talking while exercising can significantly reduce postural stability by 19 per cent while texting impacts postural stability by 45 per cent when compared to music and no cell phone use.

So the next time you are exercising, don’t be tempted to talk or text. In fact put the phone away and listen to some music instead to give yourself the full benefit of your workout.

Source: Performance Enhancement and Health