Technology: A Real Pain in the Neck

Sure, you might call work related emails in the middle of the night a “pain in your neck.” But for some people, they cause a literal pain in the neck. Enter: Tech neck.

Tech neck, sometimes called text neck, is a new-age problem that involves poor posture when using technology, typically phones, tablets and computers.

If you spend hours of your day hunched over a screen or sitting behind a desk, this blog is for you.

How Tech Neck Happens

Usually, supporting the weight of your head is no problem for your shoulders and neck. However, when you throw an ergonomically incorrect chair into the mix as your head tilts down while you type an email, the load on your neck can more than quadruple—in other words, it’s like having multiple bowling balls on your neck at once!

How to Correct Your Posture

The best way to combat tech neck is to correct your posture—and not just standing posture. How you sit when you’re browsing the web or working at a desk is incredibly important to your spinal health.

Step 1: Keep your device at eye level instead of looking down. This may mean that you need to raise or lower your computer monitor as well as adjust the height of your chair.

Step 2: Make sure your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle when seated and that your feet are planted firmly on the floor in front of you.

Step 3: Give yourself a break. Every hour, stand up and move around to loosen your muscles and avoid unnecessary tension. This will help your neck and spine relax, and give your eye muscles a break from the screen.

Step 4:   Have an end-of-workday routine to unwind the day’s wear and tear. Perhaps just a few “cat/cow” stretches to get that spot between the shoulder blades (you know the spot I mean!) If you have a little more time to spend, try “Reclined Bound Angle Pose” This is a Yin Yoga resting shape that will invest in your future posture.

In Bound Angle  you will open what was closed and cramped and relax what was overstretched and fatigued. All of those muscles that were supporting the forward head posture of your work day. This pose can be held for 3-5 minutes. You will feel rejuvenated and you will have reset your posture.

If you’re struggling with neck pain, we’re here to help. We’ll make sure your spine and neck are in proper alignment with a focused, custom chiropractic adjustment.