09 Dec
Bottom Line:
The amount of postural stress you experience can undoubtedly be influenced by your anatomy, but so can many of the small decisions you make every day.
You’ve probably seen an article or two floating around the web about the relationship between tech neck and pain.
You may have even seen an uptick in commercials for neck pain treatment in Austin, Texas, and for good reason
Many of us spend at least two hours on our cellphones and five hours or more on our laptops every day. Did you know that?
You’ve been keeping your neck “stuck” in an uncomfortable position for thousands of hours every year!
Take a moment right now and check…
Is your head creeping forward as you read this?
The forward head posture we discussed before, known as tech neck, is when your chin is tucked down and your ears are in front of your shoulders.
It’s also possible that you’ve heard this posture called “text neck.”
Driving a car, working on the computer, and using a tablet or phone all usually result in this less-than-ideal posture.
And over the past few years, the number of people experiencing headaches and tech neck and pain has exploded.
Why it Matters:
Let’s take a closer look at how tech neck and pain are related.
The average human head weighs about 8-11 pounds.
Every day, you’re effectively walking around with a bowling ball (your head) balancing on a toothpick (your neck).
Even under the best circumstances, this places a lot of stress on our spine.
Holding your head up might not seem like much, but in order to move your head around pain-free, your neck’s seven bones and twenty muscles must cooperate flawlessly.
When your shoulders are pulled back, your ears should ideally line up with your shoulders.
It’s estimated that tilting your head forward, even just 15 degrees, can increase the weight of your head on your neck by over 3X.
Tilting your head forward 60 degrees can nearly 10X the stress and strain on your neck.
That stress can add up and result in your neck not moving correctly.
We’re talking stiffness, dysfunction, headaches, and more.
We’re talking about the development of tech neck and pain, and that can leave you looking for neck pain treatment in Austin, Texas.
To recap…
- Tech neck is the term used to describe the flexed head and neck position when looking down at your smartphone.
- Even 15 degrees of forward bending (flexion) can increase the stress of your head on your neck by 3X.
- It can assist your body reset and give your muscles a chance to relax if you take 15-minute breaks and check your phone or tablet.
Next Steps:
Reducing the symptoms of tech neck and pain is more than merely changing the angle of how you look at your phone.
Fortunately, you can lower your chance of pain by taking preventative measures and implementing a few easy regular adjustments.
Improving your ergonomics, stretching each day, and receiving periodic spinal adjustments can help you combat the effects of tech neck.
Take a moment today to check your posture.
Be sure to stretch your shoulders, upper back, and head if you notice that they are rounding forward or moved forward.
Tell us if you frequently find yourself slouching into this position, particularly if your enjoyment of life is being hindered by pain and tech neck.
Prior to beginning to work on your posture, you must understand what good posture looks like and, perhaps more crucially, how to keep it.
That’s where we come in.
From assessment to modifications to stretches and exercises at home, our staff has the know-how to help you improve your posture and get rid of your tech neck and pain.
You can anticipate many more years of pain-free enjoyment of your smart devices by easing the strain on your neck!
It all starts with a click or a call.
Schedule a consultation with us for neck pain treatment in Austin, Texas today to get started.
Science Sources:
“Tech Neck” Taking a Toll on Posture. Columbia Spine. 2018.
How to Prevent Neck and Back Pain Working From Home. Health Matters. 2020.
