We're not kidding when we say your smartphone might be the reason behind your neck pain. But, by any chance, have you heard of the term tech neck? Sometimes it's also referred to as text neck, and no, we did not make this up. One study done with medical students revealed that 68.1% of participants showed a prevalence of text neck syndrome, with 49.5% of cases classified as mild, 16.1% as moderate, and 2.6% participants having severe neck disabilities.
The results show significantly high results for a small group study. Imagine if we did another study with billions of people who own and use a smartphone as participants, the data would change a lot. We also have a 50% chance of the study concluding and revealing a more alarming result. This will then lead to a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking neck pain relief in Snyder and worldwide.
It's common practice to look down and tilt their heads forward when using the phone. Over the years, the duration of people spending on their phones has also increased. When you tilt your head forward, your head's weight is now less supported by the spinal column. Hence, you will have to work harder than usual to keep your head's total weight of about 12 pounds, causing more pressure on the joints, spinal ligaments, and muscles. As a result, your prolonged and repetitive motion of looking down on your phone becomes a reason for early degenerative processes, leading to persisting pain.
However, besides your smartphone, prolonged use of tablets, computers, gaming consoles, or even watching TV that is not on eye level can bring sudden bouts of neck pain. If the pain becomes severe and starts to interfere with your life, you might require medical attention or intervention for neck pain relief in Snyder.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and neck pain, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.
Technology is ubiquitous, and gadgets and other technological tools have significantly influenced our daily lives. These innovations and technological advances have made some aspects of our lives reasonably convenient. This includes working remotely, reading and responding to emails during your morning commute, catching up on your favorite movies or TV series, and communicating with family and friends, even from different places or time zones. All you need is a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, and an internet connection, and you've got a whole different world at your fingertips.
However, these advances do not come without possible consequences. For example, technology overuse can lead to various health issues. Therefore, we need to learn to use technology to our advantage and work around possible injuries, such as neck pain, obtained through the excessive use of smartphones.
Here are some ways you can explore to prevent or reduce your risk of developing neck pain:
Short breaks are necessary to give your muscles and joints a break and potentially relieve neck pain. Try to incorporate different simple movements, including gentle neck range movements or shoulder rolls.
An ergonomic chair helps desk workers prevent stress on their necks or backs. Choosing a chair with a headrest is a good thing to have. A headrest can keep your neck in a neutral position and help keep your head upright as often as possible.
You can try several ways when going "hands-free," including using a headset or Bluetooth earphones when taking a call. You can also use your phone's speakerphone option for hands-free operation. This way, you avoid tilting your bending sideways, especially when you get tired of holding the phone. You can also use a phone holder or stand to elevate the device as close to your eye level as possible, particularly when watching from your phone screen.
This can benefit desk or office workers and those who need to keep sitting for extended periods at work. It's essential to rest and do some stretching in between hours. This can help give your neck a few gentle exercises to relieve or prevent neck pain.
Listening and being in tune with your body works wonders, especially in reducing or preventing pain and discomfort. For example, if you feel any discomfort or pain in your neck, back, shoulders, or hands, it can be your body's way of telling you to take some rest. Likewise, paying close attention to physical warning signs can help prevent neck pain and other health issues.
Once neck pain becomes chronic, getting your upper cervical spine examined and checked for any possible misalignment can be to your advantage. Upper cervical chiropractors thoroughly understand how the neck works and how to find lasting relief from various pain types. They focus on the proper alignment of the top vertebrae in the neck to reduce and eventually eliminate pain and discomfort caused by misalignments.
Restoring the balance and alignment of your upper cervical spine helps your body gain back its ability to heal naturally and helps manage and eliminate your painful and uncomfortable symptoms. With the help of an upper cervical chiropractor, you can bring back your normal upper cervical alignment and promote optimal health overall and efficient body function. You also get more benefits unique to upper cervical chiropractic care, including
It is vital to ensure that you are maintaining your neck and spine healthy, balanced, and well-aligned. When you try upper cervical chiropractic care, you resolve tech-related neck injury and pain and promote healthy blood flow that benefits your body.
To help relieve you from uncomfortable pain and symptoms associated with your neck pain. You can call our office and have your cervical bone alignment checked by our board-certified Upper Cervical Chiropractic Doctor, Dr. Brian Pokorski. To book your appointment, call us at (716) 635-9742 or visit our website and use the online contact form.
Don't wait until your symptoms worsen before getting your upper cervical health assessed today. Living a pain-free life is possible. Let us help you!
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Pokorski, call our Snyder office at 716-333-8884. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
