What Is Text Neck Syndrome?
There is hardly anyone nowadays who does not own a mobile phone. Smartphones are used not only to make calls but for texting, checking google and emails.
The constant use of phones for texting has given rise to a new-age ailment that gives rise to chronic pain in the neck- called text neck.
Increasingly common, especially among youngsters, this is the term associated with the damage and pain that is sustained from constantly hanging your neck down to look at your cell phone or tablet. The hours spent hunched over in a constant position take their toll, leading to severe neck pain and soreness.
Why does this happen? The average weight of a human head is 10-13 pounds. When the head is bent at an angle, it causes your spine to work harder to hold the head up. This shifts your head out of the centre of gravity of your body, causing it to feel considerably heavier and causes increased stress on your cervical spine or neck.
With the average person spending 2-4 hours a day on a smartphone, this problem is exacerbated. Of course, the fact that he or she also spend even more hours hunched over a computer desk does not help.
There are a couple of symptoms of the Text Neck Syndrome such as pain, muscle strain, pinched nerves, dizziness, neck and shoulder pain and chronic headaches. It takes just a little bit of awareness to manage this condition. Call instead of texting- it’s faster and easier! While at work or on your phone, stretch your upper body at regular periods. Hold your phone at eye level whenever possible. Practice good posture and be aware of the line of your head and neck.
It’s always safer to limit the use of electronics. If you find that you have the symptoms of text neck, get chiropractic care before it becomes a chronic condition.
