In today’s world, people spend more time than ever staring at screens. Whether you’re using your computer, tablet, or phone for work or pleasure, bending your neck to look at the screen can contribute to a condition called tech neck. While it may begin subtly as minor stiffness in your neck, this condition can lead to chronic pain or disability if left unattended.
That’s because with each angle that you tilt your head downwards, it adds incremental pressure to the spine. Bending the neck forward 30 degrees puts 40 lbs of pressure on the neck. Fully looking down at 60 degrees can place a whopping 60 lbs of pressure. Imagine how long the average person spends a day looking down at their phone – it’s inevitable that the damage would add up to an eventual injury.
Look out for the following signs to determine if you’re suffering from tech neck:
Neck Pain
It’s common for people to experience a throbbing, strained sensation in their necks after spending a long time looking at computers or mobile devices. However, if this happens on a daily or even weekly basis, it may be a sign of tech neck. Keeping your neck in the same position for a long time causes the neck muscles to become stiff. It gets worse when you look at the keyboard instead of the screen, which puts more strain on your neck and upper spine.
Shoulder Pain
If you look at your mobile device at chest level for long hours, you may notice tension and pain in your shoulders at the end of the day. It may be just a feeling of stiffness in the beginning, but the pain may intensify if you don’t seek proper relief.
Finger Tension and Numbness
When you feel pain in your neck, shoulders, and back, it may mean that you’re doing damage to your nerves. Once nerve compression in your neck reaches a certain point, you may start to feel numbness in your fingers at times. Additionally, if you fail to ease the tension in your neck, it’ll travel down to your shoulders, arms, and fingers. Finger tension and numbness indicate that the condition has progressed to a more advanced stage.
Headaches
Looking at your computer or mobile phone for a long time also makes you more susceptible to tension headaches. In some cases, tension in your neck and upper spine may lead to a migraine, which is more painful than a typical tension or neck headache. While you can take painkillers to relieve headaches, you won’t be able to get rid of them for good without seeking treatment for the tech neck.
Tech neck can be annoying and debilitating, but it can be easily treated if it’s diagnosed at an early stage. If you’re looking for a safe and effective way to treat tech neck, consider seeing a chiropractor. B3 Medical has six advanced facilities offering comprehensive treatment for back, shoulder, and neck pain in Tampa and its surrounding area. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
