We can hardly imagine our lives without smartphones and other screen gadgets. Yet we often overlook the health issues that have come with them. One of the most concerning is the so-called “tech neck” syndrome. This condition can cause degeneration of the spine, especially in the cervical (neck) region.
Doctors coined “tech neck” in 2008 after patients started reporting health problems linked to mobile phone use, according to the Daily Mail.
The term “tech neck” refers to poor posture, where the upper spine stays in an unnatural position for long periods. With the chin jutting forward for hours, the neck becomes strained and the arms extend forward, leading to headaches and back pain for smartphone users. Ultimately, this can result in degenerative changes in the spinal structures for avid smartphone users.
Other consequences of tech neck include muscle spasms, fluctuations in blood pressure, joint inflammation, arthritis, pinched nerves, herniated discs, and metabolic disruptions. This syndrome often contributes to the development of a double chin and neck wrinkles.
Spending excessive time on phones can lead to such severe issues that surgical intervention may be required. It’s not surprising: tilting the head 45 degrees exerts a pressure equivalent to 23 kilograms on the neck, while a 60-degree tilt increases that load to 30 kilograms.
Smartphone Addicts More Likely to Suffer Poor Nutrition, Loneliness, and Aggression
Sociologists have found that more than a quarter of the world’s population spends over seven hours a day glued to their smartphones, while only four percent of users spend less than an hour on their devices. Even more time is spent in front of computer screens. With many workers transitioning to remote work, that screen time has increased significantly.
Data from the expert group Data.ai reveals that in 2022, people worldwide spent around 4.1 trillion hours on their smartphones, which is equivalent to 470 million years.
A 2017 study by Turkish researchers showed that university students who are dependent on their phones are more likely to suffer from poor nutrition, loneliness, and aggression.
Kavita Trivedi, an adjunct professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Texas Southwestern in the U.S., says humans are bipedal creatures. Our bodies are not designed to look down for extended periods while simultaneously putting extra pressure on the cervical spine.
Sit up straight, avoid tilting your head, and keep your shoulders back. Keep your feet flat on the floor and hold the phone at eye level. Periodically stand up and walk around, preferably outdoors, to improve circulation and give your eyes a break.
Trivedi says phones and tablets are valuable tools, so there’s no need to give them up. The key is to prevent tech neck before it develops. If it does develop, see a specialist.
