What Is Text Neck (and How to Avoid It)

Text neck is a hot topic of conversation these days. As you may have guessed, it’s the hunched and often aching neck and shoulders that come from spending too much time looking at your screen (whether you’re texting or reading this morning’s news doesn’t really matter).

Text neck is actually nothing new — humans have been looking down to read the newspaper and work on paperwork for years and years. However, the combination of the modern lifestyle and the prevalence of technology have now increased the occurrence to a greater share of the population. Some studies say that people between the ages of 20 and 44 spend only 2 hours of the day without their cell phones within reach. Unfortunately, text neck can bring on early arthritis and result in chronic pain.

But there is good news — and it’s that it’s not too late to do something about text neck. Keep reading as we shine a light on the new name for an old problem, and find out what to do about text neck!

Symptoms of Text Neck

Watch out for these warning signs which can help you notice the onset of text neck before the side effects get really severe. Remember that this issue can develop as a result of any screen — from your smartphone to your laptop and your tablet. If you catch it early, you may be able to tweak your habits in time to avoid the serious implications of this bothersome habit.

The symptoms of text neck include:

• Upper back pain and stiffness. Discomfort can range from chronic soreness to periodic sharp pains around the head and neck.
• Tingling nerves in the upper back.
• Shoulder spasms.
• Pain that radiates down the arms.

Preventing Text Neck

The simplest and most effective way to deal with this painful issue is to keep it from happening altogether. Practice healthier screen time by keeping the following tips in mind for yourself. If you are a parent, observe your child as they use a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to ensure that they are developing good posture habits as well.  

• Always keep the screen at eye-level. Whatever type of technology you are using, avoid holding it at your chest to keep from having to look down for too long. This position creates the bothersome bend we now call text neck.
• Schedule in plenty of breaks if you work at a laptop. Get up and walk around every 20 minutes — this is also a good idea for improving concentration and helping you do your best work!
• Adjust your monitor at work so that you are looking directly into the screen rather than hunching over to see it properly.

Treatment for Text Neck

If it’s too late for prevention and you are already experiencing this issue, a chiropractor can help you overcome the ache from texting too much by teaching you some exercises to strengthen the neck and core muscles. Practice these frequently throughout the day for relief and to prevent pain in the upper back and neck.

Meet the Practice

Dr. Chad Wills of Wills Chiropractic provides relief for neck pain and other issues in Naples, FL. To discuss text neck and how you can overcome chronic pain, do not hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Wills. He can be reached by phone at 239-331-6060.