The answer is YES! The average person worldwide spends roughly 6 hours and 45 minutes per day on screens. That is close to 1/3 of your day. Every inch your head falls forward from normal posture is another 10lbs of weight added on to your spine.
The repetitive use of phones and computers in today’s world can cause minor traumas in the neck and back that add up over time and can produce a number of symptoms. These symptoms are due to the repetitive strain of muscles and tiny joints in your neck, back, shoulders and hands. The common name for this condition is ‘Tech neck’.
Fixes: When using your phone, tablet, or computer, find a way to keep the screen at eye level. Other ways to relieve your symptoms of tech neck are through corrective postural exercises, stretches, massage, and chiropractic care.
Who gets Tech Neck? Tech neck is common in anyone who frequently uses handheld devices or computers that sit below eye-level. This causes the head to fall forward and look down. This is common in children who use tablets or iPads to play games or do schoolwork, and adults who have office jobs that have frequent sitting and elevated computer and phone use.
Long-term effects of tech neck: These repetitive minor traumas add up over time and can cause significant strains on the neck, back, and shoulder muscles. Other possible long-term effects are headaches, and disc bulges or herniations, which can lead to pinched nerves. These minor traumas can lead to early arthritic changes in the neck and back, causing stiffness, loss of mobility and pain.
What does this mean for you? Unresolved tech neck leads to headaches, pain, and muscle spasm making work uncomfortable, sleeping difficult, and can make household chores unbearable (cooking, cleaning, laundry, and yard work).
Schedule a visit with your chiropractor today for tech neck and get advice on chiropractic care, postural exercises, and stretches!