“Text Neck is an overuse syndrome or a repetitive stress injury to the neck caused by holding your head in a forward and downward position for extended periods of time. When holding your head in this position, excessive amounts of tension are created in the deep muscles of your neck and across the shoulders causing both acute and chronic neck pain. Chronic cervicogenic headaches(headaches from the neck) have also been linked to this condition.

The increased prevalence of these pains is due to the increasing popularity and hours people spend on handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets. “

What causes text neck?

“When in an upright posture, when the ears are aligned with the centre of your shoulders, the weight of the average head exerts approximately 4.5 to 5.5 kgs of force through the muscles of the neck. But when your head is moved forward by only 2 to 3 cms away from this neutral position, the weight of your head dramatically increases, 4 – 6 times more than the normal weight of the head is placed on the neck. If left untreated, a 'text neck' can lead to the inflammation of the neck ligaments, nerve irritation and increased curvature in the spine. It can also develop an upper thoracic postural deformity known as a "dowagers" hump, which can result in alteration of the bone structure of your vertebrae in this region.”

Signs and Symptoms of Text Neck

• Instant or delayed-onset upper back or neck pain when using a handheld device,
• Nagging or sharp pain in the neck or shoulders at the end of the day,
• General shoulder pain and tightness,
• Forward head posture,
• Intermittent or constant headache made worse when looking down or using the computer.
• Treatment for text neck

Text neck is conservatively managed by your physiotherapist. The main aims of treatment are to reduce the tension within the neck muscles, reduce the pain within your neck and address the postures that aggravate your symptoms. This will normally involve postural awareness and strengthening exercises to correct for the future and prevent a recurrence. After your physiotherapist has assessed your lifestyle, posture and your neck structures they will confirm the main issues causing your neck pain and if it is due to text neck.

Contact us today for an assessment if you might be suffering from a text neck

Reference: https://physioworks.com.au/injuries-conditions-1/text-neck

Image: Google images

Posted by: Ilse van Vuuren