The 411 on Text Neck

Poor posture is a byproduct of many of our daily activities. Our bodies were not designed to be sitting all day. Whether it’s driving, having a desk job, or spending a lot of time sitting in front of a screen, neck pain from poor posture is becoming an epidemic.

Even more recent is the reliance on mobile phones and other handheld devices. If you’re reading this on your mobile phone now, notice the direction you're looking. Is your neck leaning forward, extended forwards, or flexing upwards to see your screen? Chances are you’re exacerbating a postural issue known as text neck. 

What is Text Neck?

The era of smartphones only began about a decade ago, but in that time, chiropractors and physical therapists have seen an immense increase in neck issues related to smartphone use. These neck issues in this context are frequently known as text neck.

Text neck is a result of a chronic forward head posture. The posture can be identified by the ears not lining up over your shoulders; the neck reaches out, almost past the chest. 

This position can increase strain on the neck and upper back muscles if held frequently, causing various issues, including neck pain, back pain, and even deformities.

Symptoms

Do you think you might suffer from text neck? Changes in mobility or movement often stem from the muscles becoming stiff from a lack of strength and movement in different planes of motion. 

Compensatory patterns and weakened muscles can induce some of these common text neck symptoms:

Management

Most jobs and school activities are now done on mobile devices or sitting in front of a screen. It may not be an option to change this, but there are ways to treat, manage, or avoid neck pain. 

Prevention

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In this case, avoiding forward head posture is the best way to eliminate neck pain associated with text neck. It is not a realistic expectation to not sit in front of a screen or to use a mobile device. But you could limit your screen time or invest in ergonomic devices that position your devices at eye level. 

If there’s simply no way around looking at your phone all day, performing exercises and stretches that counter the forward head posture position are helpful. Exercises that stretch the front of your body and strengthen the back of the body. 

Practice chin-tucks. This exercise involves you tilting your chin downwards as if you are trying to touch it to your neck and then pressing the shoulders back as you do so, elongating the back of the neck. 

Chiropractic Treatment  

Chiropractic adjustments can help with all sorts of postural issues. A chiropractor can help you manage text neck by manually manipulating the neck's vertebra and providing guidance on how to manage symptoms at home. 

Fix Text Neck Today

Want professional help dealing with your neck pain? Contact Kilian Chiropractic today at (604) 688-0724 or book an appointment online .