How much time do you spend texting, emailing from your phone, flicking through social media, or just generally looking down at your phone? Text neck is a repetitive strain injury, and one that is seen in a growing number of patients over the past few years. An increasing number of teens and adolescents are experiencing aggravating muscle pain in their necks, shoulders, and occasionally their lower backs as well as a result of hunching over their smart devises.

So why does it happen?

Looking down and dropping your head forward changes the natural curve of your spine and neck. Repetitive misalignment causes muscles to strain and cause wear and tear on the structures of your neck.

What can you do if you are already showing the signs and symptoms of Text Neck?

The first thing, and best thing you can do is improve your posture. What we recommend is using these two simple prevention rules:

1. Look forward! Don’t tilt your chin down to look at your smart devices, try moving the devise up towards eye level, just like your desktop screen should be.
2. Straighten on up! If your posture isn’t perfect, try doing shoulder extensions. Arch your neck and upper back backward, pulling your shoulders into alignment under your ears. This simple stretch can alleviate stress and muscle pain.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of Text Neck, the next step is to be assessed by your Physio. Where we can recommend a series of exercises to help strengthen both your neck and back muscles, we will then come up with a comprehensive treatment plan specific for you and your needs. This plan could include regular adjustments, massage therapy, a range of exercises dependent on the extent of your injury.

If Text Neck is preventing you from performing the activities you enjoy, or if you believe the way you are using your phone placing you at risk of developing further neck pain in the future, please call our clinic for an appointment with one of our experienced therapists today.