London Wellness Group
The London Wellness Group’s Dr. Brad Abell strives to be considered among the best chiropractors in London Ontario.
And part of that means being aware of the modern challenges people face when it comes to neck and back pain.
In this article, Dr. Brad talks about the risks of “text neck”, and how you can avoid it.
It’s the 21st century, and we all have a pile of electronic devices these days. Even some Amish groups are using cell phones!
Smart phones give us unfettered access to the internet and all the information on it every moment of the day, which means a disagreement with your pals over who won the Hart Memorial Trophy in the 2013-14 season is much easier to solve (it’s Sidney Crosby, by the way).
And as the internet grows, so does our fascination with these devices.
People are spending more and more time looking at their screens even as they walk from place to place.
And while that might help you cram before a test, respond to emails more quickly, or keep you amused as you catch a few Pokemon on your daily stroll, it can have disastrous effects on your neck and spine.
Cell phones: a pain in the neck!
The average human head weighs about ten pounds on average.
To put this in perspective, grab a ten pound bag of rice next time you’re in the grocery store – that’s how much your head weighs.
All that weight is sitting on your neck and spine all day.
Of course, they’re designed to support that weight, and they do a pretty good job overall – when your head is on top of them.
But when your head hangs forward, like when you’re using a phone or tablet, it can cause some issues.
The ideal posture is where your ears are in line with your neck and shoulders.
This is where your body can best diffuse the weight of your head along your spine.
But if your head hangs forward, you’re pulling your spine forward.
Even a few inches can put a significant amount of weight on the spine. T
hat’s why you can feel it all the way down your spine when you stretch your neck all the way forward during a yoga or Pilates practice, for example.
At that point, the ten pound weight in your noggin creates a much larger amount of force on your spine – up to sixty pounds of force.
To put that in perspective, pick up a bag of six bowling balls, or the nearest willing eight year old.
That’s how much force is being exerted on your neck as it hangs forward.
And when you stretch your neck occasionally, that’s fine.
Healthy, even. But if you maintain this position for long periods throughout the day – like the several hours you spend using your cell phone or tablet – it can cause some significant damage.
These days, people are calling it “text neck”. But that’s just a fancy name for a repetitive strain injury from holding your head forward all day.
Symptoms of Text Neck
If you use a cell phone or tablet, you’re at risk of text neck.
And since that covers just about all of us, it’s becoming more and more of an issue in today’s society.
If you’re experiencing any of the following, you may be suffering from text neck:
• Chronic headaches
• Tension in your jaw
• Poor posture
• Curvature of the spine
• Chronic pain in your neck, shoulders, or upper back
• Difficulty focusing
But what can you do about it?
How To Prevent Text Neck
If the above doesn’t apply to you, but you use a cell phone, follow these tips to avoid developing text neck.
The key here is to keep your head as much as possible in a neutral position, where your ears and your shoulders are in line.
There are a few different ways to do this.
First, hold your phone at eye level, or at least at the point where you can look down with your eyes instead of your head.
Also, pay attention to your posture.
It’s easy to start slouching, especially if you spend a lot of time seated at a desk.
To accomplish a good posture, imagine someone is pulling you up by an invisible thread attached to the top of your head.
Finally, you may want to consider using your phone less.
I know that’s hard, but the less you use your phone the less like you’ll be to fall back into the patterns of slouching and poor posture that cause you back and neck pain.
How To Treat Text Neck
If you believe you’ve experienced a repetitive strain injury in your neck as a result of modern technology, contact The London Wellness Group.
Using a combination of chiropractic, acupuncture, registered massage therapy, and more, we can help.
Contact The London Wellness Group to book your FREE wellness solution session today.
You’ll get a chance to sit down with one of our practitioners who will answer your questions, address your concerns, and provide you with a treatment plan to help repair the damage.
Contact The London Wellness Group today, and take your first step toward living a pain free life!
Until next time,
London Wellness Group
1140 Southdale Rd #2,
London, ON N6K 2Y1
- https://goo.gl/maps/3WgSBfoAUX12
The London Wellness Group is a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers in London Ontario. We’ve come together with one goal – to provide you with the highest level of chiropractic, wellness, and aesthetic care possible, so you can begin living a happier, healthier, more confident life.
To read more tips on health, wellness, and chiropractic healing, please visit us here: chiropractic clinic