A cell phone service provider is giving a whole new meaning to the term "full body workout." New "thumbells" will help strengthen fingers, and speed up texting skills.
The U.K carrier o2 will launch a "Fit for 4G" campaign to help strengthen customer's texting muscles using tiny dumbbells, ABC News reported.
The company said their network is going to speed up so much that phone users will need to exercise their thumbs to avoid pain and strain.
The network said two out of five customers had reported thumb pain over the past five years; half had said their thumbs got tires from texting.
"Our research shows that excessive usage of the phone can leave people with sore thumbs, so we want our customers to make sure their thumbs are well looked after so they can make use of all the great technology that is available at their fingertips," David Johnson, general manager of devices for O2, told ABC. "That's why we're trialing the Thumbell units and have worked with BMI to develop the Fit for 4G fitness routine."
The company is testing the two ounce weights internally, some Tweeters have also been testing out the unique exercise equipment and posting photos and videos of their workouts.
"Ultimately, we want to make sure our customers are ready for 4G here in the U.K., and all the extra work their thumbs are going to be doing," Johnson said. "With our 4G network launching this summer, it's a bit late for an April Fools!"
Nicola Goldsmith, who helped o2 come up with thumb exercises, believes thumb strain caused by mobile phone use is a reasonable concern.
"We know that things like using a keyboard is implicated in some people's pain and symptomology in their hands," Goldsmith said. "We made a program for people so they could strengthen their intrinsic and extrinsic thumb muscles."
Goldsmith said there are a number of ways to prevent texting-related thumb pain. According to Goldsmith: gripping the phone gently, resting you forearm while texting, and paying attention to neck alignment, can prevent those texting woes.
"They help build the muscle. If you are moving your muscle through ranges of motion it will strengthen the muscle," she said. "Obviously, you need to slowly increase the repetitions and frequency you do it."
Goldsmith thinks the thumb requires attention, just like any other body part that is used on a daily basis.
"The thumb is such a complicated and such an important digit," she said.
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