How You Can Avoid Text Neck
By Sara Butler
Advances in technology have benefited people all over the world, but it’s also producing new challenges for people that they couldn’t have seen coming. Did you know that Americans send about 2.19 trillion text messages every year? That’s great for keeping in touch but terrible for your neck! Text neck is impacting the quality of lives of many people, including chiropractic patients. Here’s what you need to know about text neck and how you can avoid it.
An Overuse Injury
A lot of people use smartphones these days, and they do come in handy. The problem is that the constant use of this handheld technology is producing a health problem of epic proportions: Text neck. Studies have reported that 83 percent of people complain of hand and/or neck pain when they’re using their smartphone. The study also found that when people send texts they display classic signs of tensing, including holding their breath and increased heart rates. This tension is one of the cornerstones of the text neck phenomenon.
So, what causes this injury? At its core, text neck is an injury of overuse where people perform repetitive motions as they hold their head down and forward, putting more pressure on the neck and the upper back. If your neck is not kept in neutral alignment, then it increases your risk of shoulder, upper back, and neck pain – and about 90 percent of people hold their neck forward when texting.
How You Can Prevent Text Neck
Going to see your chiropractor for regular adjustments will help in your battle against text neck, but you have to take control and change some of your habits as well. You should:
- Hold your phone at a proper angle – When reading on your phone or sending a text you should try to hold it in front of you rather than look down at it. Hold your phone directly in front of your face, right below your line of sight, and keep your shoulders relaxed.
- Try a talk-to-text program – This may result in some funny text corrections, but it will help to take the pressure and strain off your neck.
- Take breaks – If you spend a lot of time on your phone like most people, set a recurring alarm to remind you to set it down and take breaks.
- Build up strength – Include exercises in your workout that stretch and strengthen your neck and shoulders.
- Stay hydrated – Making sure you drink enough water every day will help.
If you think you may have text neck, discuss it with your chiropractor during your next adjustment at The Joint Chiropractic.