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Texting and walking: strategies for postural control and implications for safety
Siobhan M Schabrun1, Wolbert van den Hoorn1, Alison Moorcroft1
1The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Science and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Plos One
|January 28, 2014
Summary
Texting or reading on a mobile phone while walking significantly alters gait. This can increase risks for pedestrians, especially when navigating obstacles or crossing roads.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human-computer interaction
- Public health
Background:
- Mobile phone use while walking raises safety concerns.
- Limited evidence exists on the specific effects of mobile phone use on gait dynamics.
- Cognitive distraction, altered biomechanics, and reduced visual fields are potential risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of reading and texting on mobile phones on gait performance in healthy individuals.
- To quantify changes in gait parameters associated with mobile phone use.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-six healthy participants walked in a straight line under three conditions: normal walking, reading text, and typing text.
- Gait performance was assessed using a three-dimensional movement analysis system.
- Key gait parameters including speed, foot placement, and head/trunk motion were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Reading or texting on a mobile phone led to slower walking speeds and increased lateral foot displacement.
- Head and thorax movements became more synchronized, reducing neck range of motion (ROM) but increasing head movement in global space.
- Texting resulted in slower speeds, greater deviation from a straight path, and less neck ROM compared to reading.
Conclusions:
- Mobile phone use, particularly texting, significantly modifies gait patterns.
- Altered gait mechanics and increased head movement in global space may negatively affect balance.
- Texting or reading while walking poses potential safety risks for pedestrians.
