Text Neck: A health Issue of Pandemic Proportion
posted: Aug. 04, 2015.
Text Neck: A health Issue of Pandemic Proportion
The health effects of a head forward posture have been known and studied for many years. It is well known that this posture is associated with muscle imbalances, joint restrictions, ligament strain, neck pain, headaches, upper back pain, low back pain, shoulder pain, reduced ranges of motion, a straightening or reversal of the "normal" cervical curve, increased curve through the mid back, rounding of the shoulders and calcium deposition within the spine(arthritis/degeneration). This was once mostly associated with aging, a disease processes or a job that required a person to be looking down for hours at a time. In today's society it is very common for the average adult to have a mild or moderate forward head posture; however, until the very recent times, it has been uncommon to see forward head postures in adolescents and children.
Globally, it is becoming very common (pandemic proportions) to see this posture among younger populations; in addition, the forward head posture now seen is much more severe than it was 10 or 15 years ago. This rapid, pandemic change in posture has been attributed to smart phone use and has been referred to as "text neck".
There are now billions of smart phone users, world wide, that are using their smart phones for texting and internet use at an average of 2-4 hours per day, with a large percentage of these people being adolescents. The frequency of back pain, neck pain and headaches among teens has skyrocketed in recent years and is being attributed to "text neck". A recent study was conducted to demonstrate the changes in force applied to the neck with a forward head posture. The study examined the forces on the neck with the head held at varying degrees of forward carriage. The study determined that the average human head weighs about 12 lbs. With the head in a neutral position (ears over shoulders and shoulders over hips) the downward force of the head on the neck is equivalent to the 12 lb. weight.
-With the head forwa
rd flexed to 15 degrees, the effective weight of the head is 27 lbs.
-With the head forward flexed to 30 degrees, the effective weight of the head is 40 lbs.
-With the head forward flexed to 45 degrees, the effective weight of the head is 49 lbs.
-With the head forward flexed to 60 degrees, the effective weight of the head is 60 lbs.
They further determined that, with smartphone use the head is most flexed forward when texting and is on average, when texting, at about 60 degrees of forward flexion.
Considering this information, it should come as no surprise to realize that texting/smartphone use is having a significant impact on the health of society (and probably a few people you know). We are not disillusioned to think that we are going to convince many (if any) people to ditch their smartphone; so, we recommend using your arm to lift your device to eye level or try looking down with your eyes and not your head or neck. Another way to text if you are able is to lay face down and look up at your phone in front of you, and this will create extension of the neck instead of the typical neck flexion during texting. Each time we bend out head forward to look at our phones we are compressing the discs in the front of our spine and causing a reduced or reversed neck curve. A patient with a straightened or reversed neck curve is also 18 times MORE likely to have neck pain!!
Chiropractic is an effective treatment for neck pain, back pain, headaches, and shoulder pain; it has been demonstrated to improve ranges of motion and slow the progression of degeneration and arthritis...all of the symptoms of "text neck". Come see the doctors at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic to help manage the symptoms of "text neck" or to help correct the problems created by this pandemic.
The doctors at will address the spinal joint and muscular issues and will provide effective postural advice, stretching and exercise recommendations to put you and/or your loved ones on a path to health.
Call Gallatin Valley Chiropractic today for an appointment.
406-551-2177