Text Neck

Today’s society has become dependent on cell phones.  From the alarm in the morning to directions home, we are constantly looking at and using our cell phones.  The average person spends five or more hours a day looking at the screen.  This constant bending of the neck and rounding of the shoulders is wreaking havoc on the body.  This 21^st Century problem is referred to as “Text Neck.”  Text Neck is a condition that forms when you overuse your neck, back and shoulder muscles by keeping yourself in a hunched over position.  When you keep yourself in this position, it can cause serious strain on the spine.  Text Neck compresses and tightens the muscles, tendons, and ligament structures in front of the neck while lengthening the muscles, tendons, and ligament structures behind the neck. The human head weighs 10-12 pounds, every inch your head is tilted forward, the weight your neck has to carry doubles, and overtime, that extra strain adds up.  People who suffer from Text Neck will start to feel pain, discomfort and tightness in their neck, shoulders and upper back.  Headaches are also a common symptom of Text Neck.  If left untreated, long-term forward neck posture can lead to disc herniation and pinched nerves.

If you have to spend several hours on your phone try to sit up straight and try to elevate your phone closer to eye level.  Be sure to take breaks periodically when using a cell phone or other handheld device.  Start with some simple neck stretches every 30-45 minutes.  Follow those up by stretching your shoulders and back to relieve some of the discomfort caused by hunching over.

The good news is with regular adjustments, stretching and changing the way you view your devices you can help protect your back and neck from strain.  To help ease the pain from Text Neck give our office a call at (910) 246-0606 to schedule an appointment!!!