What is “Text Neck”?
Did you know that the average American sends between 250 and 2,000 texts per month? Yes, you heard right. And that only counts for a fraction of the time we spend looking at screens. With over 64% of American adults owning smartphones, we spend countless hours staring down at our phones, and it’s proven to be a real pain in the neck - pun intended.
When you stare down at your phone, you are placing up to 60 pounds of pressure on your neck, which - if done on a regular basis - can result in a number of problems in your neck and upper spine. In fact, more and more people are reporting chronic pain in these parts of the body, leading health professionals to name this chronic overuse of smartphones “text neck.”
Symptoms of Text Neck
Given that your head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds, and that gravity raises the pressure in your neck depending on the angle, you are actually putting a lot of undue strain on your neck and spinal column when you stare at your smartphone several hours a day.
Text neck can result in a variety of problems that plague the neck and upper shoulders, as well as cause headaches and changes in your neck’s natural curve. These problems, which can get worse with time, including:
Arthritis
Muscle strain
Pinched nerves
Headaches
Herniated and bulging discs
Neck pain
As the owning and using of smartphones becomes more mainstream, especially in younger people, there will certainly be more reports of text neck and its symptoms.
Prevent & Relieve Text Neck
The best way to treat text neck is to prevent it from happening in the first place. If you catch yourself looking at your smartphone frequently and for long periods of time, make a point to hold your hands right in front of your face, rather than looking down at the screen. Keeping your head upright will keep your neck and shoulders from hurting with time, as well as save your neck from having to carry extra weight or sustained pressure.
More than likely, though, you already suffer from the symptoms of text neck, and if so, here are a few simple exercises to help reverse them: backward
Roll your head from side to side gently
Place your hands against the front of your head and press forward, then place your hands to the back of your head and press backwards
Stand 2 feet back from a corner, placing your arms out to the opposing walls and leaning in as far as possible without pain. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds
If you find that you have continued pain and problems in your head, neck, and upper shoulders as a result of text neck, consider making an appointment today for a chiropractic adjustment. Contact us today!