Texting can be a pain in the neck

October 2011

There's a new epidemic sweeping the country, which is affecting thousands of people. It is called 'text neck' and Freedom Back Clinics in the city centre is treating an increasing number of patients suffering from it.

'Text neck' is a repetitive stress injury of the tissues caused by the neck being flexed for a prolonged period of time and sufferers are increasing as the use of smart phones and tablet computers become more popular.

The tissues and joints of the neck are not designed to be in that position for any length of time and stress to this area can lead to headaches plus shoulder, arm and wrist pain.

Chiropractor Rachael Lancaster at Freedom Back Clinics in Leeds is warning people that it could lead to irreversible arthritic degeneration if left untreated and recommends those who may be suffering from it to have it checked out and also follow advice on how to avoid long-term damage.

"Imagine sitting on your ankle sideways for 10 minutes. It would feel stiff and sore when you returned it to its natural position," said Rachael. "However that is exactly what people are doing with their necks."

"If people continue to put their necks in these positions the body will gradually adapt to the stresses and, because the head and neck move forwards, it will eventually lead to a reversal of the natural curve of the neck. Postural changes will then occur which can lead to serious problems in this area."

To help people avoid 'Text Neck', Rachael is offering the following tips.

• Take regular breaks from texting.
• Look straight ahead every few minutes and pull the chin back into the neck and hold that position for a few seconds
• Rotate your shoulders while keeping your arms by your sides (this will help to increase blood flow through the shoulder muscles, as they will tighten when in the 'text neck' position.
• Sit up straight every time you text
• Put the phone a little higher when you are texting.

"The key message is to have any back, neck or muscle pain checked out by an expert to avoid more serious problems in the future," concluded Rachael.

Client: Freedom Back Clinics