Put the Phone Down to Prevent Text Neck

By Donna Kostiew

We see it happening everywhere. Many people feel as if it has gotten out of hand, but what can they do? When they try to say something they are either ignored, shushed, or even worse … blocked! You probably know what I am talking about because there is a good chance you are doing it now. (You’re on your phone, right?) It’s become the new way of life for young and old alike, but those who are constantly hunched over their technological devices may not realize the significant damage they are causing. It can be a pain in the neck, literally, which is why it is appropriately named text neck.

Text neck is also known as Forward Head Posture and occurs when your head is no longer in line with the neck and shoulders. For every inch that your head moves forward, the stress that is placed on the spine dramatically increases.

This forward head posture isn’t totally new … we’ve been doing it for years while reading, working at our computers, and driving. But we’re doing it more, and for longer periods of time, with the addition of all the technological devices that we use every single day.

What Are the Symptoms of Text Neck?

In one word, pain … but let’s also take a look at some other examples of how this can affect you.

• Headaches
• Back, neck, and shoulder pain
• Muscle spasms
• Nerve irritation
• Curvature of the spine

Text neck can also lead to serious, lifelong issues such as degeneration and early onset of arthritis in the neck. It is something that most of us need to be very mindful of, especially if our children are using these devices as well.

Can We Prevent This From Happening? Or at Least Slow it Down?

Yes! There are definitely some preventative measures that can be taken.

• Hold your device at eye level
• Look down with your eyes only, not your head
• Stretch
• Work on improving your posture
• Download a preventative text neck app (yep, they exist)
• See your chiropractor

Your chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic is a great place to start for pain relief and preventative care. Regular chiropractic care helps to maintain the proper alignment of your neck and spine and removes any of the joint restrictions you may have brought on yourself while sending text after text after text. In addition to optimal spine health, your chiropractor will also be able to help improve your neck’s strength and range of motion.

To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Vancouver, Wash.