TECH NECK

Saskatchewan chiropractors are seeing a rise in head, neck and back pain caused by poor posture from using digital devices.These strains and pains associated with texting and spending time on hand-held devices have been dubbed ”tech neck”. Thanks to our love for technology, this condition isn’t going away anytime soon.

Why Does Tech Neck Matter?

Bending your head to look at your phone can put significant pressure on your spine! Your head weighs, on average, 10 pounds when in a neutral position.It’s estimated that for every inch forward that you crane your neck, an additional 10 pounds of pressure is being applied to your spine.That adds up fast and can harm your spine in a number of ways, including neck pain, hunched shoulders and headaches.

There Are Things You Can Do!

LIMIT SCREEN TIME

Try to limit screen time to an hour or two. If you need to be on a device for extended periods of time, fit in a 15-minute break for every hour of screen time.

MAINTAIN A CORRECT POSTURE

Bring the device up so it is eye level and sit or stand up straight with your chest out and shoulders back. If you must look down, tuck your chin into your neck instead of hanging your head forward.

BALANCE SCREEN TIME WITH ACTIVITY

Exercise is a great way to help neutralize the stress caused by poor posture. Try some stretches, or get up and walk around.

INVEST IN FURNITURE THAT WILL HELP ENCOURAGE GOOD POSTURE

There are so many options available to try! You could sit in an ergonomic chair with a headrest, purchase a tablet holder or raise the level of a computer monitor so it’s eye-level, to name a few.

If you have recurring aches or persistent pain, it is a good idea to consult with a chiropractor.The sooner you address the problem, the more successful you will be in combating tech neck and ensuring strong posture.