Are you getting a new Smartphone or tablet for Christmas? Will you be using it constantly? Probably I expect… but you might what to have a read of this first.
Did you know that 53%* off mobile phone users suffer from some form of neck pain, and this figure is increasing all the time.
Text Neck is becoming increasingly common. It is the repeated stress and injury to the body caused by excessive texting and overuse of handheld electronic devices. The term Text Neck is derived from the onset of cervical spinal degeneration resulting from the repeated stress of frequent forward head flexion while looking down at the screens of mobile devices and ‘texting’ for long periods of time.
Neck muscles are often already strained from time spent on the computer and the usual wear and tear of the day, but continuous mobile phone and tablet use can causes an additional build up of pressure in the neck muscles. This can eventually pull your spine out of alignment, which will lead to more pain and more strain on your neck and back.
Among the most common complaints associated with Text Neck are pain felt in the neck, shoulder, back, arm, fingers, hands, wrists and elbows, as well as headaches and numbness and tingling of the upper extremities.
If left untreated, Text Neck can result in serious permanent damage including:
- Flattening of the Spinal Curve
- Spinal Misalignment
- Muscle Damage
- Nerve Damage
- Loss of Lung Volume Capacity
- Gastrointestinal Problems
If you are experiencing an increase in pain and strain on your neck and back, have a think about how often you use your phone or tablet.
Of course we are here to help too if you think you need adjusting. To book an appointment at our friendly Torbay Chiropractic Clinic call us on 01803 329799 and we’ll let you know how we can help.
* International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics