Tech Neck
July 7, 2019
What Is “Tech Neck” and How Do You Prevent It?
Society revolves around technology. Our sedentary lifestyle combined with our phones in our hands means we usually have our heads tilted downwards. This can often lead to “tech neck,” the term for stressing the neck muscles from looking down at a phone, tablet, or other electronic device for too long.
What Are the Symptoms of Tech Neck?
When you look down for too long, your neck muscles begin to strain while trying to hold your head up. Many people experience the following symptoms:
- Stiffness
- Neck spasms
- Headaches
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Numbness or tingling of the arms in severe situations due to pinched nerves
Can Tech Neck Cause Serious Problems?
Yes! As the muscles in the neck tighten, they put more pressure on the discs in your spine. The wear and tear can result in a bulging or even ruptured disc. If the ruptured disc ends up pinching a nerve, you could experience pain, weakness, or even numbness in the arms. This could result in you needing surgery to correct the problem.
How Can You Prevent Tech Neck?
Getting up and moving is the first step in preventing tech neck. This will get your blood circulating and put your neck in a different position. Your office chair should recline and have very good lumbar support, and your neck muscles should remain relaxed as much as possible. If you are able, work standing up.
If you are looking for some easy moves you can do while at work, check out our blog post Five Exercised to Do in The Workplace.