Is your smart phone a pain in the neck?

Is your smart phone a pain in the neck?

March 6, 2020 10:01 am Published by

Technology has tremendously changed the way we receive information and entertainment; lying on the couch while using cell phones and tablets have gradually replaced the healthier position. This has influenced our posture and body mechanics in unhealthy ways and explains why more people nowadays are complaining from neck, upper back, shoulder, and arm pain.

Did you know that cell phone use can double or triple the weight of your head and significantly strain your neck by doing so?

Typically, an adult human head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds. The cervical spine’s (neck) muscles, tendons, and ligaments support the head during the forward movement and during the static posture such as holding the head in a forward tilted position.

Now, consider the fact that the average person is holding his or her head forward to look at a phone or read a tablet for 1 to 2 hours a day, all this excess strain creates extra wear and tear on the structures of the neck, upper spine and back.

Here is what you can do to still enjoy modern life while safeguarding your neck:

  • Don’t use your cell phone or your tablet for extended computer work, use instead your desktop or laptop and make sure these devices are arranged ergonomically.
  • While using a cell phone, raise your phone instead of bending your head to look down at it. Your head should be upright, your ears are in line with your shoulders, and your shoulder blades are down and retracted.

If you have any further questions or need help with you back/neck pain, don’t hesitate to contact our Physiotherapy team.

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