Text Neck: How Hunching Can Affect Wellness
By Genevieve Smith
Text neck is real. It affects your posture and can have trickle down effects on other limbs and your nervous system. It is something you can relieve and begin to correct through chiropractic, however! Let’s look at some facts connected with this trending detriment to healthy posture:
- 5000 Hours - Time teens spend hunching over smartphones annually
- 10-12 Pounds - Weight of an adult head in neutral position
- 60 Pounds - Weight equivalent of a flexed neck at 60 degrees
How It Affects Your Spine
The process of hunching takes your upper back from neutral spine status to a forward angle of up to 60 degrees. This angular shift affects the weight distribution of your head -- those brains weigh a lot, after all! -- and can be fully realized as a change of many extra pounds pulling at your well-calibrated spine. Tension results in the neck, shoulders and upper back, and the actual curve of your spine changes after many hours repeating this affected posture. While it may feel easy to slip into this stance while surfing on your smartphone, beware: There are long-term effects to upping your hours logged hunching. Disc herniation and pinched nerves are an unfortunate and startling possible outcome.
How It Affects Your Nervous System
Changing your posture for the worst can have a domino effect on other areas of your body. Long-term forward bending can lead to chronic headaches, shortness of breath, numbness in the arms, depression and heart disease. This dizzying array of symptoms are from the effect prolonged hunching can have on your nervous system.
How Chiropractic Can Help
Hunching over can result in a shocking straightening of the spine, and result in wear and tear over time. After many hours of hanging your neck, chiropractic can help! But it will take time to correct your posture. Regular adjustments will work toward spine realignment and reinstate your natural curve, reducing pain and chronic tension.
For your part, change the way you surf social apps. Hold your phone higher so you can keep your head in a neutral position. Remember to take frequent breaks, and stretch it out to stay limber. For a full corrective plan, reach out to the lovely chiropractors at The Joint and employ their help in your text neck woes. With affordable pricing and and an easy walk-in policy, you’re in great hands.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.
