Spend time observing public areas, whether footpaths, trains, buses, airports — there’s no limit to seeing most people glued to their phones. In fact we are hardly aware that we are so transfixed with the attention we give our smartphones today.
People are oblivious of how much they are distracted and how much their situational awareness changes when they are walking and using a phone. A recent 2023 study has proved that people who are very focused on their phone do not pay attention to what is going on around them while walking; it amplifies the risk of tripping, bumping into another pedestrian, or even taking a wrong road. Increasing evidence points to using a cell phone while walking, resulting in an increased risk of tripping and falling.
Seniors, in particular need to exercise caution as engaging with the phone can cause you to miss a lot going on around them and the sudden ditch or uneven patches of pavement that can lead to a bad fall.
Indeed, our devices can cause what some experts term as “inattentional blindness.” One study found that participants were half as likely to notice a happening on the street when they are glued to their phones.
But there’s more. You phone isn’t just diverting your attention. It changes your gait, your mood, your posture – and hinders your ability to get from Point A to Point B without running into some trouble.
How using your smartphone can break your stride —literally!
When we walk and use the phone at the same time, we reflexively adjust how we move. Studies show that people on the phone tend to walk 10% slower than their undistracted counterparts.
A professor in Denmark remarked that a number of gait changes that reflect slowing down has been observed. Additionally one’s ability to respond quickly to stimuli – for e.g. an oncoming car won’t be in your radar if you are only concentrating on your phone. It has been noticed that some people slow down to the point of stopping in order to view their device. In this case, the person/s behind are in danger of losing their footing as well.
“Text neck” syndrome is avoidable
Looking down at the smartphone while walking can also increase the amount of load or force placed on the neck and upper shoulders resulting in “text neck” symptoms. During the last few years, a growing reporting of data is showing that the “text neck syndrome” might be considered as an emerging 21st-century syndrome. This clinical condition refers to the onset of cervical spinal degeneration that results from the repeated stress of frequent forward head flexion while we look down at the screens of mobile devices and while we “text” for long periods of time. Though seniors fall prey as joints are more fragile, text neck syndrome is more common in adolescents, who, for several hours a day and for several days a year, hunch over smartphones and personal computers more frequently than in the past. It is estimated that 75% of the world’s population is hunched over their handheld devices hours daily with their heads flexed forward. (From a study done in 2021).
How a smartphone affects your mood
When scientists and researchers want to study stress, they often ask people to perform several tasks at one time, as multi- tasking is a reliable way to stress people out. Now, there is mounting evidence that points to increased cortisol levels whilst walking and using the phone – even though we may not be aware of being stressed at all.
A study done in 2023 examined the psychological effects of walking in an outdoor park or street while looking at a phone – or not. Generally when people go for a walk, they feel better afterwards, this was evident in the phone – free walking group. The walking with being engaged on the phone group, on the other hands reported feeling less relaxed, less positive, less excited, and less happy.
These negative effects were attributed to a diminished connection with nature and the surrounding environment.
The dangers of distracted walking
Most of us understand that walking and using a phone especially to read and reply to messages, stories and view videos, is downright risky. It can result in minor trips to major falls or an accident.
A 67 year- old woman fell 6 feet whilst texting and walking
So how do you stay safe while being mindful of the safety of other people around you?
It is recommended to step to the side if it is imperative to read and/or respond to a message or something important.
Avoid using (especially texting) your phone at junctions, crossings, down the stairs and on crowded roads and pavements.
Exercising a few good phone habits will help your well-being and go a long way in keeping you safe.
