It might sound like a funny name, but “text neck” is a very real complaint in this day and age! It’s exactly what it sounds like; if you spend too much time looking down at a phone or tablet screen, you might begin to feel discomfort or pain in your neck or upper back.
That’s because sitting in that position for a long period of time places strain on the posterior muscles of your neck, and causes tension in the cervical spine. It’s a relatively new problem in chiropractic medicine, due to the use of electronic devices exploding over the past decade or so. We see it most often in teens or young adults, but anyone who frequently uses a smartphone or tablet can be affected.
The solution for “text neck” is actually pretty simple. Simply raise the screen up to eye level, straight in front of you, while watching videos or chatting with friends. If your arms start to hurt, that might be a sign of too much screen time!
It’s important to avoid sitting in the same position, looking down at a screen, for long periods of time. But also, gentle chiropractic adjustments can help to alleviate the strain and tension in this part of your body. If you feel pain in your neck or upper back, give us a call. We can evaluate the situation, make recommendations for safe screen time, and offer you chiropractic adjustments to make you more comfortable. If your child is the one afflicted, we can help them as well.