Nowadays, most of us don’t go more than a few hours without having our noses buried in some type of electronic for work, leisure, communicating and everything in between. This has led to an epidemic of “tech neck” and “text neck.”
Have you noticed that you’re hunched over your electronics more often than not? Does it leave you feeling stiff and sore in your neck and shoulders more often than you would like to admit? Tech and text neck are a serious issue that comes with potential serious complications if not addressed in a timely manner.
Tech Neck, Spine Degeneration, and Pain
In the biomechanical world, tech or text neck is known as a “forward head posture.” And it can quickly become a literal pain in the neck. This hallmark’s poor posture can be detrimental to the neck for many reasons.
Did you know that for every additional degree your head is forward, it exponentially increases the amount of strain your neck has to sustain? That means that if your head is an additional 10 degrees forward, it can make your head feel like it weighs over 40 pounds (instead of the average 8). Ouch!
Simply put, a forward head posture causes spinal misalignment. At a biomechanical level, the upper and lower neck are forced into extreme positions. The upper neck sits in end range extension while the lower neck is in excessive flexion. This leads to imbalanced disc stress, irritation of the facet joints that connect each vertebra, and a mishmash of over-stretched and tightened spinal soft tissue.
Addressing Symptoms of Tech Neck
Symptoms that you may experience related to a forward head posture include:
- Poor posture (rounded and forward shoulders, slumped upper back, forward head)
- Neck pain and upper back pain
- Neurological symptoms due to nerve impingement or strain, including tingling, numbness, weakness.
- Chronic headaches that tend to radiate from the base of the skull
- Stiff neck, shoulders, and upper back leading to poor mobility with daily activities
- Weakness due to body misalignment and pain
The best way to address spinal misalignment and these frustrating symptoms? With the top researched, scientific and results-oriented options available: Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP).
The first step to addressing these issues is understanding what tech neck is and how to prevent complications. Talk to a chiropractic specialist in San Francisco at Posture Works.
Dr. Scott Levin, Dr. Jason Miller, and Dr. Corey Todhunter are some of the few distinguished experts in CBP. They can help you get to the core of your symptoms and create a plan that works. This may include spine adjustments, soft tissue therapy, posture training, strengthening, and other lifestyle changes.
Don’t let tech or text neck leave you resentful of your electronics.
Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.
