Text Neck

There really is a (growing) phenomena called Text Neck.

Doctors and chiropractors say people hunched over their mobile gadgets are developing neck strain, headaches and pain in the shoulders and, sometimes, in arms and hands. What’s more, all that curving of the body to text, type, watch videos and play games could cause debilitating pain that lasts a lifetime, they warn.

From Beware Text Neck From Too Much Gadget Use

This article How Texting Can Give You a Permanent Pain In the Neck, hit a (ahem) nerve...I'd just gotten a smart phone (heh) and was instantly captured by Words with Friends - I had up to 15 games going at once - I'm slightly obsessive.

The first week didn't see too much of an impact (or nerve compression) as my regular chiro was on break and I absolutely REFUSED to see the sub (Pain In The Neck) so I'd been taking Aleve regularly.  Went off of it when my chiro came back into town, but whoa!  Neck stiff, hurting, pain shooting down the arm AGAIN.  By the time I made it in Monday I was convinced it was a set back from the bad adjustment.

Not so...chiro asked if I'd changed anything, suggested using a different pillow (I'd already bought a new one months ago to help with my neck).  Think, think, think...

Ahhh, wait...I'd gotten the new phone, lots of bells and whistles I'd not had with my flip phone...plus games...hehehehe...ow, ow, ow!

Moderation is obviously KEY to playing or using the phone (or any device).  Some suggestions from  How Texting Can Give You a Permanent Pain In the Neck:

If you’re a regular smartphone user, follow these tips to reduce your risk of text neck:

• Hold your phone up when you text or play games, instead of looking down. Position it at a proper reading angle, directly in front of your mouth at a comfortable viewing distance, a few inches across from your chin. This allows you to avoid strain because you can look at the screen by gazing down with your eyes rather than bending your neck. Your shoulders should also feel relaxed when you’re interacting with the screen. If they’re not, adjust your position.
• Dictate. If your phone’s texting app has a dictation program, use it – again, holding the phone in front of your mouth.
• Take frequent, regular breaks. Excessive use is a key factor in text neck, so avoid prolonged bouts of texting, gaming, surfing or reading emails. If you tend to lose track of time while using your smartphone or lack the self-control to put it down, download a timer app and set it to remind you to take a break after 5, 10 or 15 minutes.
• Support your range of motion. When you take time to exercise something other than your texting thumbs, focus on movements that strengthen your neck, back extensors, rhomboids and latissimus dorsi muscles. Peper suggests some stretches for just this purpose on his blog.
• Stay hydrated. Proper hydration all day long eases stress throughout the body, from your neck down. “Your cervical spine discs, and every other body part, will thank you,” Markison says.
• Communicate with friends and family another way. Leave a voicemail, send an email from your (hopefully ergonomically correct) desktop computer, or better yet, get together in person to share a cup of coffee, with your phones safely stowed away.

Which has made me realize what a narcissistic device cell phones, tablets/pads, etc. can be...where is everyone looking?  Are we actually looking around us?  Seeing the people?  Interacting?  All the electronic 'stuff' and sites has made us 'think' we're more connected, but in reality I'd say we're not.  I haven't researched it, but I bet folks don't have long in depth conversations as much, we're used to minor interaction, instant gratification.  *sigh*  Guilty as charged.

So for those of us who sit and stare at computer screens all day - this site listed some stretches for the neck.

This article covers the growing trend of text neck.  There is even the Text Neck Institute.  So if you're experiencing pain in your neck, back, shoulders, take a moment and assess whether you need to change how you use them or find alternatives (if possible).  And pass this along, the scary part is people may not realize they are causing damage to their spine and they could possibly, in the long term, cause themselves major, long term and potential irreversible problems.