Text Neck is a common condition of modern life. But there is help available!
STOP!! Have you considered the possibility that you are reading this in a harmful position? Is your back stooped, shoulders slightly rounded, or your head drooping forward? Do you have stiffness or pain in your neck and shoulders after a long day at the workplace staring at a computer screen? How about after a couple hours of surfing around social media on your phone? Health conditions are no exception to the modern age’s overabundance of new things to discover, especially when it comes to our interactions with technology. Any pain or strain you’ve experienced as a result of the activities described above could be the result of Text Neck.
What Exactly is Text Neck?
Text Neck, also known as Forward Head, is a condition in which the constant habit of looking down, especially at an electronic device, causes pain mainly as a result of poor posture.
On average, people stare at their phones for 5-6 hours per day. The weight of a human head ranges between 10 and 12 pounds. However, varied degrees of this Forward Head position can put up to 60 pounds of pressure on the neck. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and even your spine can be pulled out of alignment by the increased pressure and weight. This can lead to a variety of health issues over time, since it weakens muscles, destroys soft tissue, and causes irreversible alterations to your spine and posture. Because children’s bodies are more flexible and seem to ‘grow’ into poor posture, it has become a greater concern for them than for adults.
Symptoms of Text Neck
By the time people realize they have text neck, it has usually progressed to an advanced stage. Nerves can become pinched and misaligned when Text Neck pulls on the spine and upper back. Text Neck not only causes pain, but it can also create improper communication between the brain and other areas of the body due to a weaker spine.
Other symptoms to look out for are:
- Pain in neck, upper back, shoulders, and arms
- Muscle spasms
- Pinched nerves
- Curving of the spine
If left untreated, permanent spinal injury such as reshaping of the spine may occur, though symptoms will differ from person to person.
Treatment for Text Neck
We realize that patients will not suddenly quit using their devices or stop looking at them. The first step, though, is to become conscious of how texting or using technological gadgets might lead to poor posture.
Lifting your device to eye level will relieve pressure on your neck by preventing your head from slouching forward and allowing your spine to maintain a neutral posture. Avoid constantly straining your muscles by looking down. Taking pauses and stretching every hour will assist your neck and spine relax and become less tight.
One of the most effective treatments for Text Neck is chiropractic care. To relieve pain and misalignments, as well as strengthen weakened muscles, your chiropractor can use spinal manipulations, stretches, and exercises. A chiropractor can provide guidance on how to prevent reverting to old habits after treatment, in addition to physical benefits.
Please contact Innovative Chiropractic today to discover if the pain you’re experiencing is caused by Text Neck, or for additional information. Our Mill Creek, WA team is dedicated to providing you with the most appropriate therapy for your problem, as well as long-term solutions and natural healing.
