The dramatic increase of smart phone usage can be a real pain in the neck, for more than one reason. While we can all appreciate the benefits of the advances in mobile devices, we’ve all seen the drawbacks before.
It’s not uncommon to see a group of people sitting together, yet all looking down at their smart phones, texting, emailing, gaming, reading, and watching. More than just a distraction from real-world interaction, looking down at your phone for extended periods can be physically harmful as well.
Text neck is the slang term for a condition called Forward Head Posture. Common symptoms may include tightness across the shoulders, headaches, and neck soreness.
A chiropractor in Webster Groves says more teenagers are finding their way to his office because of text neck. He says it can lead to irreversible arthritic degeneration if left untreated. Permanent damage to your neck and spine is quite a grave risk. This kind of degeneration can make you feel a lot older than you are.
A study that was performed a few years ago found that for every inch the head was shifted forward off center, it actually increases the weight and the demand on the spine by 10 pounds. So just a head shifted forward an extra inch to an inch and a half is going to be applying 20-25 pounds of extra pressure around the neck area. That’s essentially like wearing a truck tire around your neck.
So what can we do to prevent text neck? Hold your mobile device in a raised position while using it, and avoid long or frequent periods of looking down, even if it’s to read a book or magazine. Encourage your family to do the same, especially teens who use mobile phones for entertainment more excessively. Check with Dr. French for exercises you can do to help alleviate text neck and protect against further damage.
Cell phones don’t have to be a pain in the neck!
Reference: http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/272298/3/Doctors-seeing-more-teens-with-text-neck
Posted on
Mon, October 3, 2011
by Livewell Family Chiropractic Center