Tech Neck

If you haven’t heard about Text Neck yet, also referred to as Text Neck, this has become a new buzzword in the health industry to describe a very common issue that impacts people today. Text neck is a condition that formed when you overuse your neck, back and shoulder muscles by keeping yourself in a hunched over position, typically the position that occurs when you spend a lot of time looking down and forward, such as you would when looking on a mobile device. When you keep yourself in this position, it can cause serious strain on the spine. Text Neck is more than just a cautionary tale that parents can use to keep their kids off their phones, it is a real issue and something that can cause daily pain and discomfort as well as life-long damage to your spine. While Text Neck is a real and serious issue, the good news is it is also one that can be improved with chiropractic care, if you take the time to visit your chiropractor and get the assistance that you need.

We live in a society where people are hooked on modern gadgets and technology (computers, cell phones, tablets and gaming devices) that are causing serious problems with the spine as it gets subjected to cummulative trauma by being bent forward with our heads looking down frequently and for extended hours. All of us that own modern technology are prone to develop serious problems with our neck and spine. This not only affects the neck but also the rest of the spine, from the skull down to the pelvis and even into the hips, knees ankles and feet. The neck and back pain is only the beginning of troubles assoicated with Forward Head Posture (FHP). The vertebrae when misaligned, pinches on the nerves which exit between the vertebrae (Vertebral Subluxation Complex), causing abnormal nerve supply to our organs, muscles, tissues and cells and creating abnormal function in those organs.

Important Facts On Tech Neck

  • If left untreated, long-term forward neck posture can lead to disc herniation and pinched nerves.
  • It can also impact the natural curve you are supposed to have in your neck. If you look at the x-rays of a healthy individual without Text Neck, you will see a nice subtle curve in their spine. Someone with Text Neck will instead have an alarmingly straight spine that does not have this important curve.
  • The reason the neck changes so much when it is in this position, is that the average adult head weighs between 10-12 pounds, and when you tilt that head forward and down to look at your phone, tablet, laptop, etc. you are increasing the gravitational pull on your neck and applying a great deal of pressure to this delicate area of your spine. This force is the equivalent of 60 pounds of extra weight.
  • Many people who suffer from Text Neck will start to feel pain, discomfort and tightness in their neck, shoulders and upper back. However, this condition also applies extra pressure to your nervous system, meaning it can lead to pain and discomfort all over the body and it can be causing issues in your arms and hands, in your low back and lead to headaches, and other serious health issues.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

Remember, when you visit Charlotte Chiropractic Center and we tell you that you have damage from your posture, or Tech Neck, it won’t necessarily be a quick fix to restore the curve in your neck and get you to be pain free. The damage you have done has been from hundreds of hours of keeping your head in this position. A problem that has been building this long, won’t be fixed in a matter of minutes. However, if you are willing to put the time into visiting us on your recommended healthcare plan, you can get the assistance you need to restore your neck and start living the pain-free life you deserve.