Text neck: neck pain from your smartphone

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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 prolonged and poor posture when looking at a (phone) screen. When you tilt your head forward to look at a screen, the pressure on the cervical vertebrae increases enormously. To give just one example: at 15 degrees bending forward, the pressure on your neck is already 12 kg, and at 45 degrees it is even 22 kg! No wonder, then, that you can suffer if your neck is in that same, unnatural position for long periods of time. This constant strain causes overstretching of muscles and irritation of joints in the neck region, which can cause pain and stiffness in the short term and have greater 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
Pain between the shoulder blades
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, of course, besides preventing worse symptoms, it is important to get started with treatment for your complaints. Effective text neck treatment focuses on restoring the natural balance of the spine, reducing muscle tension and improving posture. A chiropractor can help you with this. A chiropractor specialises in treating complaints that stem from incorrect posture and overuse of the spine: exactly what goes wrong with a text neck.

How does treatment work?

Text neck treatment starts with a comprehensive intake and physical examination. The chiropractor assesses the position of the cervical vertebrae, the range of movement of your spine and the tension in muscles and connective tissue. A personalised treatment plan tailored to your situation is then drawn up. At The Family Chiropractor during your first appointment after your intake, you will also receive your first treatment, the so-called chiropractic adjustments. These are corrections of stuck (neck) vertebrae. In addition, the chiropractor helps by means of mobilisation techniques to improve the mobility of your neck and back and muscle relaxation techniques for cramped or overworked muscles. Your chiropractor can also give you posture advice and tips for smartphone and computer behaviour, and exercises for 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?

Many people notice a marked reduction in their neck pain, more freedom of movement and less headache or tension after just a few treatments. However, this is different for everyone, and also depends on how long the symptoms have been present and how seriously the position of the neck has changed. The chiropractor will not only help you get rid of your pain and recover your neck, but also help you prevent text neck from coming back. You can also always ask your chiropractor for ergonomic advice on setting up workstations or using mobile devices.

Help! I suffer from a text neck, now what?

Do you regularly suffer from neck pain after a day of scrolling or working on your laptop? Does your neck feel stiff when you stand up? Do you get a headache after looking at a screen for a long time? Then chances are you are dealing with text neck. The good news: with the right approach, text neck is easy to treat and prevent. Schedule a free consultation today to see what we can do for you, or book your first appointment now!

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