Most telephone handsets are dedicated to their manufacturer's phone systems, but headsets are not.  Telephone handsets are ideal for low to medium use.  Headsets are perfect for medium to high use.

Research confirms that regular phone use for long periods can be a common cause of neck and back discomfort and complaints. It is reported that an increasingly common form of repetitive strain injury known as "phone neck" is caused by wedging the telephone handset between neck and shoulders. This is typically done to free hands to use a keyboard, therefore those particularly at risk are office based phone users who simultaneously use a phone and computer for lengthy or regular periods of time.

When we cradle a telephone handset between ear and shoulder this can result in stress on our neck which results very often in muscle spasm and stiffness. Poor posture of the neck during extended (and demanding or stressful) telephone calls may even lead to improper cervical alignment and pinched nerves. Also the resulting reduction in blood flow accelerates muscle fatigue.