If you’ve ever spent hour after hour, day after day staring at your computer screen, you probably know the pain that is “tech neck.” It’s a term that’s come to refer to the soreness, stiffness, and even injury that can result from when you bend your head downward to look at an electronic device for too long, according to NewYork-Presbyterian.
“It’s the fallout from spending too much time looking down at phones or tablets, or holding your head too far forward to look at a computer screen,” says Stacie J. Stephenson, a doctor of chiropractic and chair of functional medicine for Cancer Treatment Centers of America based in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
If not treated, “tech neck” can be bad for your long-term health. Here are symptoms to look out for, and how to fix your “tech neck.”
Why Is ‘Tech Neck’ Bad for You?
“Tech neck” can cause headaches, neck pain, pain in the shoulders, pain in the upper back, tingling or numbness in your hands, and even a loss of the natural curve of the spine, says Steven Knauf, vice president of chiropractic and compliance at The Joint Chiropractic in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The severity of the symptoms will vary from person to person, but they tend to be more prominent with an increased level of activity on a cell phone or other device, he notes.
In a study of 500 people, researchers found a strong association between the amount of time someone spent using their phone and the duration and severity of their neck pain. The study authors recommended that people pay more attention to healthy sitting positions and the amount of time using cellphones to potentially help cut back on neck and shoulder pain caused by device use.
Dr. Knauf notes that “tech neck” can also lead to posture problems. Spending hours hovering over your phone or straining your neck forward during work can cause lengthening of neck muscles and shortening of chest muscles, he explains — “which may lead to an increase of spinal pressure in your neck.”
Be mindful of your posture throughout the day, and try to correct it as soon as possible when you find yourself slipping into awkward positions.