Text Neck and Cell Phones & Tablets Usage – iPhone, Samsung, iPad, Nexus, Kindle, etc.
What is Text Neck?
The human head is not structured to be constantly looking down. Our ancestors had to be alert for dangers around them and were not usually concerned with what was immediately at their feet. Therefore, to constantly have the head angled downwards in order to interact with a phone or other device is a pretty unnatural position.
The average weight of an adult’s head is around 11 pounds. This really isn’t all that much for the spine to bear. However, an anterior, or forward, head posture increases the weight put on the spine due to gravity. In fact, a very forward head posture can increase your head’s weight by as much as six fold. Imagine trying to carry a 60 pound dumbbell on your head all day.
Unfortunately, this increase in weight occurs regardless of whether you’re sitting or standing. The extra weight can cause neck pain and radicular pain that radiates to other parts of your body. It also may result in impinged, or pinched, nerves. Over time, constantly bending your neck to look down may cause your cervical, or neck, vertebrae to lose their normal curve. In extreme cases, compression fractures are even possible.
Kids are also affected. Even though their heads weigh less, their skeleton is immature and still growing. Text neck can severally affect their development. They’re actually at an increased risk since children and adolescents often spend hours at a time on mobile devices, playing games and using social media.
Text Neck Symptoms
As you might expect, the first and most common symptom of text neck syndrome is neck pain. This usually quickly progresses to pain in the shoulders and headache as well. Nausea sometimes accompanies the headache. Some sufferers also experience muscle spasms in the neck, shoulders and back.
With text neck, the cervical spine is being stressed. Since the nerves that exit the cervical vertebrae provide movement and sensation to the arms, hands and fingers, victims of text neck may feel pain, numbness or tingling in these areas. Also, due to poor posture, pain may travel lower down the spine.
The human spine is by no means perfectly straight. There is a gentle curve in the lumbar, or lower back, region. There’s also another mild curve in the neck. Patients with text neck slowly start to lose that curve. When that happens, pain becomes chronic and unrelenting. You also put yourself at much greater risk for severe disc herniation.
Prevention of Text Neck
There are some simple steps you can take to prevent the pain and spine damage of text neck syndrome. First and foremost, stop using your device at the first sign of neck pain. Take a break of at least half an hour before resuming use. When you do use your device, hold it at eye level so that your head and neck are in a comfortable, neutral position. You may also consider getting a device holder that you can adjust to be in line with your field of vision.
Next, try making use of your phone’s voice features. Simply dictate your messages rather than stay hunched over your phone typing them in. Most phones will even read responses aloud to you. There are also several useful apps out there that help prevent text neck. The apps will detect when your phone is being held at too great of an angle and help remind you to keep it at eye level.
There are some effective text neck exercises that will help relieve neck pain and minimize spine damage. A simple one is to place your hands on your lower back while lifting your body off the floor, keeping your head in a neutral position the entire time. Hold this pose for 2 seconds, then release. Of course, you should consult your chiropractor before starting any new exercises. They’ll also be able to recommend some other useful techniques.
Naturally, if you’re already suffering from text neck symptoms, you’re looking for relief. Chiropractic medicine can provide safe, natural pain reduction for all issues associated with text neck.
Chiropractic Treatment for Text Neck
You may be wondering what to expect from chiropractic treatment for text neck. Dr. Weigle will begin with a consultation to learn about your symptoms, lifestyle and unique medical history. In most cases, x-rays will be ordered to evaluate the curve of your next and check for any spinal issues.
Actual treatment may consist of several methods, such as adjustments or traction to restore normal curvature and release any pinched nerves. Of course, in advanced cases, many sessions may be necessary before normal function is restored and pain completely eliminated. It’s important to be patient and vital to follow your chiropractor’s instructions. With good cooperation on your part and expert chiropractic care, you’ll be back on the road to a pain-free life.
Chiropractor Dr. Weigle | Absolute Health Chiropractic | 2720 NW 6th St #1 | Gainesville, FL 32609 | (352) 377-7373