Texting exercises

Stretch head to the chest Shrug the shoulders Stretch and rotate wrist Spread fingers Clench and unclench fist

A safe text guide with exercises for avoiding injury, including shoulder shrugs and neck-muscle stretches, has now been launched by Virgin Mobiles.

The Mobile Data Association, which compiles the figures, says the 57.5 million messages sent by amorous texters on 14 February was more than double the number sent on the same day in 2001.

Its chairman Mike Short said: "The growing awareness of the benefits of text messaging has meant it is the choice method for discreet communications - particularly when protocol dictates as on Valentine's Day."

Strain

The MDA expects Britons to be tapping out 60 million messages a day by the end of the year.

The Virgin Mobile safe text guide is backed by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) and the Repetitive Strain Injury Association.

BCA spokesman Matthew Bennett said: "Text messaging regularly, over a long period of time, could cause repetitive strain and lead to injuries in later life."

The chief executive of the RSI Association, Andrew Chadwick, said that maintaining blood flow to hands was crucial to avoiding injury and regularly stretching fingers would help.