iPad shoulder becomes the latest modern life affliction Volunteers held the tablets on their laps with no case, on their laps with the case propping it up and on a table with the case adjusted at to prop it up at a low and high angle. Researchers measured the users head and neck movements throughout. Results, published in journal Work, revealed that tablets held in the lap or propped up less caused greater head and neck flexion [bending]. This can in turn lead to neck and shoulder pains in users, although the study authors warned that propping up a tablet too steeply could even put strain on a user's wrists and hands. Study author Dr Jack Dennerlein said: "Compared to typical desktop computing scenarios, the use of media tablet computers is associated with high head and neck flexion postures, and there may be more of a concern for the development of neck and shoulder discomfort. Only when the tablets were used in the table-movie configuration, where the devices were set at their steepest case angle setting and at the greatest horizontal and vertical position, did posture approach neutral. This suggests that tablet users should place the tablet higher, on a table rather than a lap, to avoid low gaze angles, and use a case that provides steeper viewing angles. However, steeper angles may be detrimental for continuous input with the hands. Further studies examining the effects of tablet and configuration on arm and wrist postures are needed to clarify and complete the postural evaluation. He added: "Our results will be useful for updating ergonomic computing standards and guidelines for tablet computers. These are urgently needed as companies and health care providers weigh options to implement wide-scale adoption of tablet computers for business operations. Apple sold 15.43 million iPads in the last three-months of last year, compared with 7.3 million for the same period a year earlier.