Tech neck describes the tension, soreness, and pain you feel in your neck when you look down at your phone, tablet, or other handheld devices for extended periods. Your head only weighs about 10 pounds, but the effective weight soars about 50 pounds of pressure when you bend your neck to look down at your devices.
Do I have tech neck?
With the average adult spending an astonishing six hours each day with digital media, it’s no wonder that tech neck has become an epidemic of sorts. When you look down at your device for prolonged periods of time, it can wreak havoc on your neck and spine.
It’s not uncommon for tech neck to pinch your nerves and strain your muscles. A few of its telltale symptoms include:
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Headaches
- Tight neck muscles
- Neck, back, and/or shoulder pain
- Decreased range of motion
- Balance problems
- Jaw pain
- Fatigue
In addition to the outward symptoms, you could be developing some serious physical problems from tech neck, too. Some of the overarching problems associated with tech neck are:
- Herniated discs
- Disc compression
- Neck arthritis
- Spinal degeneration
- Spinal misalignment
- Reduced lung capacity
Tech neck prevention
Tech neck can really slow you down and deter your productivity. At Premier Chiropractic, we believe prevention is the best medicine and offer these tips to help you try to prevent it:
- Schedule your screen time in short sessions
- Take breaks periodically
- Sit straight and practice good posture
- Keep your device at eye level
- Exercise to strengthen your core
In addition, when you use your devices for extended periods, pause frequently to move your head from side to side and up and down to relieve the pressure on your neck and spine.
Tech neck intervention
If you’re suffering from tech neck, our dedicated team at Premier Chiropractic conducts a comprehensive exam to discover the root cause of your problem. We customize a treatment plan for you based on the findings of the physical exam and your condition. In every case, we treat the source of your pain instead of just temporarily alleviating the symptoms.
Some of the many options that we have available to help you get relief from the pain of tech neck include spinal decompression, comprehensive chiropractic care, acupuncture, and physical rehabilitation.
To strengthen your spine and neck and reduce your risk of tech neck, call us at Premier Chiropractic today, or you can book an appointment online.