The length of time spent on a tablet didn’t matter as much as the user’s posture. Here's how to avoid discomfort.

Spending too much time on tablets causes back pain, especially for women.

New research in the United States shows that neck pain due to the use of iPads and tablets can affect women more than men, and the posture is the biggest contributor to pain.

Researchers suggest that using back support while sitting on chair for long hours and exercising can help in reducing the back and neck pain.

Tablets and smartphones can cause people to slouch and tilt their head downward for long periods of time. Now, new findings reveal who is most at risk of developing neck strain from this habit — sometimes known as iPad neck — and why time spent using devices is not the biggest factor.

Carried out by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas along with researchers from hospitals and physical therapy centers across Southern Nevada, the new study surveyed 412 participants (135 men and 275 women) who used touchscreen tablet computers.

Some 70 percent of female tablet users develop ongoing pain in their neck and shoulders compared to just 30 percent of men, a US study found.

New US research has found that neck pain caused by using iPads and tablets could be affecting women more than men -- and that poor posture is the biggest factor contributing to pain.