Is Your Cell Phone Causing Tech Neck?

Bottom Line

Staying connected to friends and family is easier than ever with social media. The tradeoff is that your daily screen time may be 1, 2, 3 hours or more. And let’s face it, a lot of those hours online are spent in an awkward forward head posture that experts (and not to mention your Barrie Chiropractor, Dr. Michael Miller) have begun to call “tech neck.” It can result in neck pain, headaches, spinal disc issues, and even pinched nerves, all common conditions Dr. Miller sees in practice.

Why it Matters

Each day Dr. Miller, your Chiropractor in Barrie, works with people, young and old, who experience neck pain, headaches and the other symptoms associated with tech neck. By creating a plan of care that may include stretching, adjustments, and postural exercises; we have been able to help our patients overcome these aches and pains without giving up their cell phones and tablets.

–       Looking down at your phone, tablet, or computer for long periods of time can cause muscle strains and neck pain which is now known as tech neck.

–       Researchers have discovered the angle of your head when text messaging places tremendous amount of stress on your neck and spine.

–       Taking short breaks to stretch at least every 30 minutes helps your body feel better by improving your posture and resetting your balance.

Next Steps

Next time you are on the phone, stop for a moment and see if your head is creeping forward. If your chin is tucked down and your ears are in front of your shoulders, then you are in the forward head posture we call tech neck. It’s a good time to take a break, stretch, and reset. If you are experiencing any neck pain, headaches or other associated symptoms, then please reach out so we can work with you to create a plan to help you stay connected without suffering from tech neck.

If you know someone who would benefit from this information, share it with them today. If you are looking to take action against your aches and pains, give your local Barrie Chiropractor a call at 705-722-3131 or use our “contact us” form.

Science Source

Head flexion angle while using a smartphone. Ergonomics. 2015

Effects of a Resistance and Stretching Training Program on Forward Head and Protracted Shoulder Posture in Adolescents. JMPT 2017