Tech Neck

YOUR WHEAT RIDGE CHIROPRACTOR PROVIDES PAIN RELIEF TREATMENT FOR TECH NECK

Tech neck, upper cross syndrome, forward head posture, anterior head syndrome, smartphone spine, no matter the name, it hurts. All of these names are associated with the increasing number of people suffering from hanging their heads over a mobile device for at least 90 minutes per day. Tech neck has become a posture epidemic that is affecting a troubling number of children whose spine and nervous system are still developing. Whether you are currently feeling pain or not, make an appointment with tech neck and upper cross specialist, Wheat Ridge chiropractor Dr. Al Simeone, for treatment and ergonomic recommendations ASAP.

Symptoms of Tech Neck

The majority of people today use a mobile device for over 90 minutes per day and are at risk of experiencing the following symptoms from tech neck.
This can happen to you because your 10-12 pound head can exert nearly 60 pounds on your neck when you hang your head down while using your mobile device. This added weight causes grating of vertebrae, pinching both intervertebral discs and nerves, overstretching tendons and ligaments and straining muscles.

Neck pain

Upper back pain
Shoulder pain

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (wrist and arm pain)

Increased headaches and migraines

Chiropractic Care and Ergonomic Training to Avoid Tech Neck Injury

If you or someone you know is already dealing with these symptoms, chiropractic care, soft tissue therapy and therapeutic exercises can help you relieve pain caused by tech neck. Even if you do not currently feel pain, it is a wise decision to speak with Dr. Al Simeone and receive posture and ergonomic recommendations to prevent symptoms caused by tech neck.

Prevent Tech Neck Today with These Tips

Create a plan for you and your family to help avoid experiencing injury from tech neck—be the “posture police” especially with your children by using these tips:
One

When sitting or standing, maintain a straight neck with eyes looking forward and shoulders back but relaxed

Two

When using a mobile device, hold it at your eye level. Do not hang your head down.
three

Use a table to support and rest your elbows on. You can also use a pillow laying across your abs to prevent your arms from getting tired
Four

Be brief when writing text messages and emails on your mobile device. Do not write book-length paragraphs.
Five

Take regular breaks when using your mobile device to walk around, stretch and do therapeutic exercises recommended by your doctor.
Six

Prevent craning your head to the side when on the phone by using a bluetooth earpiece.

Frequently Asked Questions : FAQ

What is tech neck?
“Tech neck” describes the head position when someone is looking forward and down while using a cell phone or other piece of technology. When the head and neck are bent in this position it places excess stress on the muscles, tendons, ligaments and discs in your neck. Tech neck can become a serious issue for anyone who uses technology for greater than 90 minutes per day with poor ergonomics.
What are tech neck symptoms?
Symptoms of tech neck include neck pain and stiffness, headaches & migraines, muscle spasms, numbness, tingling or burning sensations traveling into the shoulder arm or hands and pain between your shoulder blades.
Can tech neck be reversed?
Yes, tech neck can be reversed but it does take time to make a long term correction. At our office we correct tech neck with chiropractic adjustments to realign the spine, soft tissue therapy is performed to remodel the soft tissues, therapeutic exercises are taught to improve proper posture and an ergonomic evaluation is performed to reduce stress caused by technology use.
What causes tech neck?
Tech neck is caused by the extra stress on the muscles, tendons, ligaments and discs in your neck. Your head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds and places that much pressure on your neck. If your head is forward in front of your shoulder it causes the head to place excess pressure (up to 60 pounds) on your neck. Tech neck can cause serious problems for people who find themselves looking down at their cell phone for more than 90 minutes per day or who have a poorly set up workstation.
Why do I have a hump in the back of my neck?
The hump on the back of your neck is also known as a dowager’s hump. This is caused by a hyperkyphosis (too much curvature of your upper back) which is commonly a result of poor posture.
What is a tech neck headache?
Headaches caused by tech neck are the result of the muscles at the base of your skull going into spasm from the excess stress your neck is under due to poor posture. When these muscles go into spasm they can place pressure on the nerves causing headaches.
Can a chiropractor fix tech neck?
A chiropractic adjustment will help reduce the symptoms of tech neck and overtime can make a long-term correction of the structural alignment of your spine. Our chiropractor has helped many patients with tech neck with chiropractic adjustments as well as recommending a cervical restoration device, therapeutic exercises and soft tissue therapy.

Schedule an appointment with our Wheat Ridge chiropractor Dr. Al Simeone for chiropractic care to relieve pain caused by tech neck and posture and ergonomic training to prevent it in the future. Call 720-573-4910.