Suffering from neck pain because of your phone? The term 'text neck' is now known worldwide and refers specifically to neck pain caused by (excessive) use of mobile devices. In this blog, read all about text neck, its symptoms and what you can do to effectively treat this common condition.
What is text neck?
'Text neck' refers to a painful neck bent by frequent smartphone use. It is not an official medical term, but it refers to a modern postural condition caused by prolonged head bending while using devices such as smartphones, tablets or laptops. This leads to overuse of the neck muscles, improper pressure on the cervical vertebrae and eventually sometimes a change in posture. This can lead to pain and stiffness, but also cause much worse symptoms. This is because incorrect posture affects all kinds of systems in our body, from breathing to hormone production.
Causes of text neck
The main cause of ‘text neck’ is looking at a (mobile) phone screen for long periods whilst maintaining poor posture. When you tilt your head forwards to look at a screen, the pressure on the cervical vertebrae increases dramatically. To give just one example: at a 15-degree forward tilt, the pressure on your neck is already 12 kg, and at 45 degrees it rises to as much as 22 kg! No wonder, then, that you can experience discomfort if your neck is held in that same, unnatural position for a prolonged period. This constant strain causes the muscles to become overstretched and the joints in the neck region to become irritated, which can lead to pain and stiffness in the short term and have more serious consequences in the long term.
Text neck symptoms
Text neck symptoms often develop gradually. At first, you may only feel some tension or fatigue in the neck, but this can quickly worsen. Common symptoms include:
Whining or stabbing neck pain
Headache pulling from the neck to the head
Stiffness and tension in the shoulders, neck and upper back
Restricted range of motion in the neck (unable to turn your neck)
Tingling or numbness in arms or hands
In addition, text neck can also cause all kinds of other complaints. Good posture is essential for good health, and a disruption in the cervical vertebrae can negatively affect all kinds of processes in your body. Without proper treatment, these complaints can become chronic.
Do you recognise the above symptoms? Then it's time to take action!
Text neck treatment
This is, of course, an inside joke, but the first and most important thing you can do if you suffer from a text neck is to reduce your screen use and make sure you always have good posturet when using electronics. Try to reduce 'looking down curved' as much as possible, for example by buying a laptop stand and/or second screen so that your monitor is at eye level and your neck can remain in neutral position.
In addition, it is of course important that, as well as preventing more serious symptoms, you start treatment for your symptoms. An effective treatment for ‘text neck’ focuses on restoring the natural balance in the spine, reducing muscle tension and improving posture. Our chiropractor in Den Bosch can help with this. A chiropractor specialises in treating problems caused by poor posture and strain on the spine: exactly what goes wrong with ‘text neck’.
How does treatment work?
Treatment for ‘text neck’ begins with a comprehensive assessment and physical examination. The chiropractor assesses the alignment of the cervical vertebrae, the range of motion in your spine and the tension in your muscles and connective tissue. A personalised treatment plan, tailored to your specific situation, is then drawn up. At The Family Chiropractor, you’ll receive your first treatment – known as the chiropractic adjustments – straight away during your first appointment following the assessment. These involve corrections to misaligned (cervical) vertebrae. In addition, the chiropractor uses mobilisation techniques to improve the mobility of your neck and back, and muscle relaxation techniques for cramped or overworked muscles. Your chiropractor can also provide advice on posture and tips for using your smartphone and computer, as well as exercises to do at home to support recovery and prevention. (Tip! Retrieved from this website you can find some tips you can start working on at home)
By targeting the cause of the symptoms - the incorrect posture and overuse - chiropractic care ensures lasting recovery.
When do you notice improvement?
Help! I suffer from a text neck, now what?
