woman giving a chiropractic adjustment to man's neck

Modern life has many advantages, but our bodies aren’t always prepared for the changes in the world. One example of that is a condition that doctors are calling “text neck.”

What is Text Neck?

When someone looks down at their phone their neck bends, so their head moves forward. An average head weighs 10 to 12 pounds, but when it’s in that position it puts about 60 pounds of pressure on the neck. This causes strain in the muscles of the neck, as well as pulling the vertebrae out of alignment. Over time this causes a number of problems.

What Are the Symptoms?

Pain from texting is located in the neck and shoulders, headaches, and spasms in neck muscles. Over time it can lead to slipped discs, tingling in the arms, balance problems, and jaw pain.

How Can You Treat Text Neck?

The first step is to correct the posture that’s causing the problems. Pull your shoulders back and straighten your spine. When your posture is correct the weight of your head is supported by the bones of your spine instead of pulling against the neck’s stabilizing muscles. Stretch tight, sore muscles by gently rolling your head from one shoulder to the other.

Of course, you’re not going to make any progress on solving your pain if you keep looking down at your phone the same way. Try to raise your mobile device to eye level as often as you can. Eventually, it will be second nature to protect your alignment as you check your email.

Can Chiropractic Help?

An adjustment will help address the pain from texting by returning the neck to its proper alignment, which is a great start. What you may not realize is how much your sore neck has affected your entire spine, so seeing a chiropractor for text neck will help restore the balance your body’s crying out for. A chiropractor can also give you stretches and exercises to help restore strength and flexibility to the muscles of the neck.

For more information about chiropractic care for text neck or any other spine problem, contact your local chiropractor today at 100% Chiropractic. Our mission is to support the whole body for vibrant health.

 

You may also like