Breaking a sweat? Keep the music; ignore the texting

Texting a friend is one way to pass the time while walking or running on a treamill. But according to a study published in Computers in Human Behavior and Performance Enhancement & Health, using a cell phone during everyday activities can significantly affect postural stability.

Postural ability is changed when one is texting, talking or listening to music, leading to negative effects on a person’s balance. While exercising, the need for stability is key in getting the most out of a workout and avoiding injury. When the mind is focusing on texts, changing music or tinkering with apps, stability is less of a focus for the brain. Tripping on the treadmill or dropping weights might be a much greater risk when trying to balance a phone with a workout.

The study—conducted by Michael Rebold, PhD, of Hiram College in Ohio, and researchers from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania—included 45 college students in a trial that included texting, talking, listening to music. Participants were put through three 20-second trials with a 10-second rest between each. Results showed that texting affected postural stability the most, by 45 percent when compared to the control group, followed by talking, at 19 percent. While texting and talking significantly decrease the stability and effectiveness of exercise, listening to music was not shown to have a significant impact.

"If you're talking or texting on your cell phone while you're putting in your daily steps, your attention is divided by the two tasks and that can disrupt your postural stability, and therefore, possibly predispose individuals to other greater inherent risks such as falls and musculoskeletal injuries," said Rebold, assistant professor of integrative exercise science at Hiram College.