Study: Texting while walking may pose health risk

Texting on the move may affect posture and balance, exposing the mobile phone user to danger, new research has found.

Participants in the Australian study walked at a comfortable pace in a straight line over a distance of around 28 feet as their body movements were analysed in three dimensions.

The 26 healthy volunteers were asked either to walk without a phone, or to walk while reading or typing a text.

While texting, participants walked more slowly and were more likely to swerve from a straight course.

Study leader Dr Siobhan Schabrun, from the University of Queensland in Australia, said: "Texting, and to a lesser extent reading, on your mobile phone affects your ability to walk and balance. This may impact the safety of people who text and walk at the same time."