Technology: A Real Pain in the Neck 📱

Tech neck, sometimes called text neck, is a new-age problem that involves poor posture when using technology, typically phones, tablets and computers.

If you spend hours of your day hunched over a screen or sitting behind a desk, this post is for you!

HOW TECH NECK HAPPENS

Usually, supporting the weight of your head is no problem for your shoulders and neck. However, when you throw an ergonomically incorrect chair into the mix as your head tilts down while you type an email, the load on your neck can more than quadruple—in other words, it’s like having multiple bowling balls on your neck at once!

HOW TO CORRECT YOUR POSTURE

The best way to combat tech neck is to correct your posture—and not just standing posture. How you sit when you’re browsing the web or working at a desk is incredibly important to your spinal health.

Step 1: Keep your device at eye level instead of looking down. This may mean that you need to raise or lower your computer monitor as well as adjust the height of your chair.

Step 2: Make sure your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle when seated and that your feet are planted firmly on the floor in front of you.

Step 3: Give yourself a break. Every hour, stand up and move around to loosen your muscles and avoid unnecessary tension. This will help your neck and spine relax, and give your eye muscles a break from the screen.

If you’re struggling with neck pain, we’re here to help. We’ll make sure your spine and neck are in proper alignment with a focused, custom chiropractic assessment. Call us today to make your appointment.

519-662-4441

info.nhwc@bellnet.ca

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Text Neck: How To Avoid Strains And Pains

Ontario Chiropractic Association (OCA)

Our modern digital age has brought us many conveniences. BlackBerry devices, iPhones, tablets and e-readers allow us to communicate and be entertained with the push of a button. Technology can improve our quality of life, but it comes with a price: being huddled over devices for long period of times can do more harm than good.

 

Using certain devices for extended periods of time can easily lead to neck strain, headaches, and pain in the shoulders, arms and hands. Anyone who has used a cellphone or tablet for an extensive amount of time has probably experienced the peculiar strain it puts on your upper body. These conditions even have their own name now: Text Neck.

 

Here are some simple strategies to help shut down text neck strain:

 

Take frequent breaks

Taking frequent breaks and looking up from your device can provide your neck with some relief from the pressure of looking down.

 

Sit up straight

It is important to sit up straight while texting. This way you can maintain good posture, relieving your back and shoulders from the strain of being hunched over.

 

Hold the phone a little higher

Holding the phone closer to eye level helps maintain a healthy posture and puts less strain on the neck.

 

Stretch

Be sure to stretch often between long periods of extended use of devices. You can rotate your shoulders with your arms by your sides to relieve tension. You can also tuck your chin down to your neck and then look up – this helps to relieve some of the tension in your neck built from the common forward-down position you adopt when looking at your device.