Text neck is a painful condition caused by looking down often. The name comes from texting or using other devices so much that it leads to pain in the neck and upper back from holding the head in such an unnatural position.
Text neck isn’t always caused by texting, of course, but using smartphones and tablets is leading to an increase in cases of this condition. While it’s uncomfortable, text neck isn’t necessarily a problem in adults. In children, though, it can cause permanent damage since their bodies are still developing.
Neck Pain Treatments and Prevention Techniques for Text Neck
Chiropractors can provide a number of different neck pain treatments and prevention methods for text neck and other issues that affect your back and neck. Here are some common treatments you can choose from:
1. Visit Your Chiropractor
The first thing to do is to visit your chiropractor. They will examine your back and neck to make certain that your spine is in the proper alignment. If it’s not, they will realign your body. This may relieve some of the pain caused by a pinched nerve or herniated disc, two issues associated with text neck.
2. Correct Your Posture
Instead of looking down at your phone or other devices constantly, you need to train yourself to hold your screen at eye level. If you don’t, you’ll only end up with pain because you’ll re-injure your neck. If you find yourself developing text neck due to the position of your computer monitor or laptop, consider adjusting your positioning so you do not bend your neck as much.
3. Take Breaks
Remember to take a break at least once an hour to stand up, stretch, and move around a bit. This will not only help prevent text neck, but it will also help with a number of other conditions that can occur from sitting too long.
4. Strengthen Your Neck
Finally, you can ask your chiropractor about exercises to help strengthen your upper back and neck muscles. This will help you maintain good posture and prevent straining your spine.
Get Started on the Path to Pain Relief Today
You don’t have to live with the pain from text neck. If you notice your neck hurts for extended periods of time on a regular basis, you need to see a professional and learn how to use your phone without causing damage.
If you suffer from text neck, it’s time to reach out to a chiropractor for help, such as Dr. Payne at Innovate Health. Dr. Payne is a Fort Worth chiropractor who obtained his Doctorate of Chiropractic in 2004 from Parker University and earned his Chiropractic Clinical Neurology Certification from Parker College of Chiropractic in 2007.
Get pain relief from a professional chiropractor by calling our office at 817-329-3552 scheduling an appointment online today.
