Get A-head of ‘Tech Neck’
Our phones, tablets, and computers are incredible tools that make our lives easier, more productive, and help us connect to people and information worldwide! Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives but a side effect of these amazing tools is that we spend all day bent over them and it’s taking a huge toll on our bodies. Every time we bend over our phones we are adding 40-60 pounds of extra force on our spines!
Our necks have a natural, healthy C-curve that allows our head to sit directly above our shoulders which is important in helping our neck bear the weight of our head. With the increased use of technology in our everyday lives we are constantly looking down and bent over. Over time this causes the neck to lose its natural shape, our head to shift forward beyond our shoulders and we start to see a condition known as ‘Forward Head Posture’.
Forward head posture dramatically increases the strain on our necks and upper back that can contribute to chronic problems such as headaches, TMJ, pinched nerves, muscle pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis and early degeneration. Twenty years ago we rarely saw cases like these and today we are surprised when a new person comes in with a healthy C-curve in their neck. So what can we do to help ourselves and make sure our children don’t develop Forward Head Posture?
Don’t worry the answer isn’t to throw your phone out the window! First and foremost make sure you are getting regular adjustments with your chiropractor. This is an integral part of maintaining the curves in our neck while we continue to use the technology that has become such a major part of our lives. If you’ve never been checked by a chiropractor before, get checked! We have technology that will evaluate your posture and educate you about your spine. Do try to limit your screen time to 20-30 intervals with walking and stretching breaks in between. Make sure you’re children’s backpacks are properly on their backs and don’t wait more than 15% of your child’s weight.
With this knowledge and these tips in mind we can continue to enjoy our technology while also maintaining a healthy spine!
