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, use an improperly placed screen or keypad, have your head tilt down while you type an email, the load on specific areas of your neck can more than quadruple—in other words, it’s like having multiple bowling balls on your off-centred neck at one time!

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 or stand when you’re browsing the web or at your workstation is incredibly important to your spinal health.  Although there are many things you can fine tune, here are some of the major pay off areas:

Step 1: Keep your device screen 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, or better yet, an ergonomic foot rest, 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.

If you’re struggling with neck pain or feel your postures are compromising your health, we’re here to help. We’ll reduce the stress by making sure your spine and neck are in proper alignment with focused, custom chiropractic adjustments. Call us today to make your appointment.