Text Neck

It’s a good thing nobody ever uses their cell phone, otherwise “text neck” would actually be a huge problem. All jokes aside, text neck has become an epidemic amongst people and EVERYONE constantly uses their cell phone nowadays. So what exactly is text neck? Text neck is a modern term used to describe the neck pain and damage you sustain from looking down at your cell phone and other devices for an extended period of time. The issue has become a regular maintenance check for chiropractors, and if you’re looking for a chiropractor in Port Jefferson, NY, you should consider consulting Dr. Sophia Argeropoulos for text neck and other spine-related conundrums.

Naturally, spending hours hunched over and looking downward can’t be beneficial for your spine health. Some patients complain of feeling discomfort in their upper back area, which leads to most chiropractors diagnosing them with text neck. Texting has become a major craze with young people over the last 10-15 years, and it isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. However, this poor posture can have serious repercussions for these young people, since their cervical spines are still in the process of growing.

Neck pain and soreness are often seen as the warning signs of text neck, along with the aforementioned upper back pain. The upper back pain can range from certain degrees of discomfort, some people can experience chronic pain or even severe muscle spasms. This pain can also spread to the shoulder area, causing tightness and discomfort. Some studies have suggested that text neck can even lead to early stages of arthritis in the neck.  

Since text neck is correlated to the usage of your cell phone, the complication is becoming exceedingly common. One study suggests that 79% of the population, between the ages of 18 & 44, have their cell phones with them almost all the time. Some possible methods of preventing text neck can include the following:

• Holding your cell phone at eye level
• Limit your cell phone usage
• Position yourself so that your head is in a comfortable position
  • This includes when you’re looking at your computer screen at the office

For all other spine-related questions and concerns, contact Dr. Sophia Argeropoulos, your local chiropractor in Port Jefferson, NY.