Text neck is a new age injury, in other words it is not your grandmas disorder. While Text neck may not be an official medical diagnosis, it is still a growing term commonly used for a repetitive stress injury where excessive texting or use of a mobile device in general is believed to be the primary cause.
A doctor or other medical professional typically identifies text neck pain after a physical exam and patient history is taken to include a review of their symptoms.
Common Symptoms Associated With
Text Neck
Text neck symptoms commonly include one or more of the following:
Pain in the neck, upper back and/or shoulder :This pain may be located in one specific spot and feel intense or stabbing, or it may be a general achiness and soreness that covers a broader region, such as spanning from the bottom of the neck and into the shoulder(s).
Forward head posture and rounded shoulders: Muscles in the neck, chest, and upper back can become de-conditioned and imbalanced due to prolonged forward head posture. This de-conditioning can make it difficult to maintain good posture with the ears directly over the shoulders.
Severe Symptoms Associated With Text Neck
Some other symptoms/risks where the prolonged forward head tilting of text neck may play a contributing role include:
Cervical radiculopathy: Symptoms of electric shock-like pain, pins-and-needles tingling, numbness, and/or weakness may radiate from the neck down into the shoulder, arm, and/or hand. Cervical radiculopathy can occur when a cervical nerve root becomes irritated or compressed, such as from spinal changes related to degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis. Severe cases of text neck may accelerate or worsen this process
Treatment and Preventative Measures
Chiropractic Treatment: Chiropractors are the most qualified doctors in the medical field to correct text neck and its problems. Since text neck is caused by misalignment of the vertebrae in the neck (cervical spine) it is only natural to go to a chiropractor that is trained to make sure the vertebrae in your spine are correctly aligned and that you are getting the proper treatment.
Raise the phone: Move the phone (and other devices) up closer to eye level so the head does not have to be tilted forward.
Take frequent breaks: Spend some time away from the phone—or any type of head-forward posture. If needed, use an alarm or app to set automatic reminders to take breaks from handheld devices.
Stand up straight: Good posture, with the chin tucked in and shoulders pulled back, keeps the body aligned in a neutral position.
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