There’s a new condition in town. It’s called “Text Neck”. Text neck is the result of a world that is getting more and more technologically advanced. More and more we are using our cell phones to access the internet, to send emails, to send text messages, to make everyday phone calls and to pass time with entertainment. A recent study showed that almost 80% of the population between the ages of 18 and 44 claim they carry their cell phones for over 90% of their waking day. The stress of constantly looking down at a phone leads to a host of problems. A study of over 7000 young adults between the ages of 20 and 24 showed persistent neck and upper back pain associated with time spent texting.
The head weighs approximately 12 pounds when resting properly on the neck and looking at the horizon. Any forward flexion or looking down of the neck adds undue stress and strain to the spine and nervous system. Prolonged periods of stress will lead to degeneration and joint dysfunction, which has deleterious effects on the nervous system and can cause pain and dysfunction.
According to a 2017 study titled “text neck” published in the Spine Journal, spine surgeons have noted a significant rise in the number of patients complaining of neck and upper back pain. Many of these complaints came from children and young people who experienced frequent neck pain, shoulder pain and headaches. This was found to be the result of hundreds and thousands of hours spent looking down at electronic devices.
Chiropractic is the obvious choice to alleviate and correct the harmful effects of text neck. With every single adjustment the spine is allowed to move more efficiently and it decreases the stress and strain on the nervous system which in turn allows the entire body to work better. This doesn’t just alleviate pain, it can also help with problems with digestion, immunity, concentration, energy, breathing, headaches and many more.
Aside from chiropractic, here are 4 tips to help minimize the harmful effects of text neck;
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Hold cell phones at eye level as much as possible
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Text with two hands to create more symmetry and minimize spinal imbalances
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Take frequent, long breaks from electronic devices throughout the day.
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Stretch! A quick and easy one is the 20 sec stretch – pull your arms and shoulders back while tilting your head up to look up at the ceiling. Do the 20 sec stretch at least once every hour.
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Ask us for more great stretches while you are in the office to help!
