Do you live with Text neck? Text neck refers to a repetitive stress injury to the neck caused by having your head in a forward position for long periods of time (like looking down at your phone!).
According to an article in The Washington Post, “Smartphone users spend an average of two to four hours per day hunched over, reading emails, sending texts or checking social media sites. That’s 700 to 1,400 hours per year.”
The forward bending posture affects the curvature of the cervical spine, your shoulder muscles, and supporting ligaments.
Some signs and symptoms of text neck syndrome include:
- Pain in the neck and shoulders
- Stiffness/tightness in the shoulders and neck leading to decreased range of movement
- Headaches
- Tingling and/or numbness in the upper limbs
- Eye pain
Our tips to prevent Text Neck Syndrome
- Hold your mobile device up to eye level.
- Slight tuck your chin and roll shoulder blades backwards.
- Take breaks from your device every 15 minutes.
- Set reminders to move from your device
- For kids, rest the device on a table or hold the phone at eye level by supporting your elbow.
Chat to one of our Chiropractors about text neck! They are masters at assessing the wellbeing of the structure and function of the spine! Our Chiropractors will also recommend the best type of care for your symptoms and educate you in reducing the chances of the symptoms happening again. Call (03) 9572 0277, or click the 'book now' button!