Many of us are guilty of spending too much time on our phones during the day. Unfortunately, frequent phone checking may be causing you some health issues that can get worse if left unchecked. I’m not here to tell you that you have to commit to a zero-tech lifestyle to be healthy, but to keep an eye out for something I’m seeing more and more patients complain about each year: text neck.
What is Text Neck?
The name is self-explanatory: “text neck” is neck pain and stiffness caused from continuously using your cellphone. Well, not so much the phone itself – but the act of bending over your phone. Most people glance down at their phone when checking notifications, shooting off a text, or getting distracted from work with some TikTok videos. When looking at our phones, our bodies often assume a position of head forward and rounded shoulders – which is abnormal for our spine.
Over time, this repetitive act of hunching over unnaturally puts pressure on your intervertebral discs. This, in turn, creates pain and stiffness. Oftentimes you may not even realize what the source is of your neck pain. If you do catch yourself hunching over your phone, you may correct it in the moment – but then slip back into the same position over time.
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Symptoms of Text Neck
Some common signs of text include:
- Sharp pain in the neck and shoulders
- Stiffness in neck and shoulders
- Headaches
- Nerve pain
- Pain when neck is bent forward
You may also notice pain in different areas depending on how you use your phone – if you check with both hands or hands-free, then your pain may originate from the center of your neck. If you check your phone with one hand consistently, the pain may originate from that side of the body.
Put an End to Neck Stiffness and Pain with PRO Therapy
Text neck is more than just a pain in the neck – it can negatively impact your life. Experiencing pain and stiffness consistently doesn’t just drain your mood – it can also lead to long-term pain if not corrected soon.
And simply adjusting your posture from now on won’t solve any current issues you’re facing from text neck. You can do some treatments at home to eliminate the pain – like applying ice or stretching. That’s why you need to partner with one one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy. We create custom care plans based on your body, needs, and ability level to eliminate pain and stiffness caused from text neck once and for all.
Learn more about our physical therapy solutions
Not only will physical therapy address your current text neck, but we’ll also work with you to train your body on better posture and create lasting habits. You don’t need to ditch your phone forever – you just need to help your body by ensuring proper alignment, through training.
Not sure if physical therapy is right for you? We offer complimentary phone and in-person consultations. We aim to meet our patients wherever they are in their journey and answer all questions to ensure a smooth experience at PRO Therapy. We want to help you make the best decision for you!
Stretches for Text Neck
Along with the guide, check out three easy stretches you can do at home to temporarily reduce pain caused by text neck.
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