It’s no secret that people are addicted to technology. It seems that everywhere we go, we see others hunched over their tablets or smartphones while playing games, reading social media updates, texting, or answering emails. This detachment is more than just an annoyance or a punchline in a joke. By being hunched over smartphones and tablets, people are increasing their risk of developing chronic neck and back pain, including the newly named condition “text neck.”

What Is Text Neck?

Text neck is a term that is self-explanatory. This is the term that is used to describe any neck pain and damage sustained from looking down at a smartphone, tablet, or any other technological device for an extended period of time.

Text neck is becoming an increasingly common problem thanks to the constant connectivity that society has with their wireless devices. This may seem like a problem that does not cause any lasting effects, but it turns out that studies have shown that there can actually be lasting negative effects, especially the younger the patient is.

Being hunched over these devices can cause permanent damage to a person’s cervical spine, and this can cause lifelong pain in the neck and upper back. This is especially alarming in younger people who are hunched over smartphones and tablets because their bodies are still growing and they will be more likely to suffer from permanent damage as a result of this.

Symptoms of Text Neck

Doctors are noticing an increase in patients coming in with symptoms that are attributed to this condition, which they can almost immediately identify upon listening to the complaints of their patients. Patients may come in complaining about acute and severe pain in the upper back, showing signs of strain in the upper back. This can tell the chiropractor that this may be attributed to the use of the cell phone. One symptom is upper back pain, which can range from a nagging and chronic pain, to severe and sharp pains in the upper back, to muscle spasms. A patient may also suffer from pain and tightness, which typically is a result of muscle spasms. In severe cases of text neck, a person may suffer from neurological symptoms that can radiate down the arm and into the hand, which is a sign that the cervical nerve has been pinched.

Avoiding Text Neck

Text neck is a condition that is actually quite avoidable. By preventing it entirely, a person will not have to suffer from the pain it can cause. To avoid this, a person should remember to hold their devices at eye level as much as possible. If you do not need to bend your neck to see the screen, text neck is less likely. You should also limit your time on these devices. If you notice neck or back pain, it is important to see a chiropractor right away to help minimize the long-term damage it can cause.

For more information about text neck, visit Horst Chiropractic today.