The impact of different cell phone functions and their effects on postural stability

This study examined the effects of different cell phone functions (texting, talking, and listening to music) on postural stability. Forty-five college students participated in four cell phone conditions (texting, talking, listening to music, and control) in a counter-balanced order. Postural stability was assessed on the Biodex Balance System SD. During the postural stability test participants completed three, 20-s trials for each condition with a 10-s rest interval between each trial, and a five-minute rest interval between each condition. Overall postural stability was significantly (p ≤ 0.001) worse during the texting (2.23 ± 1.31) condition when compared to the talking (1.51 ± 0.75), music (1.16 ± 0.57), and control (1.22 ± 0.61) conditions. Postural stability was significantly (p ≤ 0.001) worse during the talking condition when compared to the music and control conditions. The music and control conditions were not significantly (p > 0.20) different. In conclusion, using a cell phone for texting or talking can disrupt postural stability by requiring divided attention between dual tasks, and therefore, possibly predisposing individual's to other greater inherent risks such as falls and musculoskeletal injuries.