Counteracting Your Text Neck

​With so much of our lives revolving around communication via our mobile phones, it was inevitable that there would be consequences to our body. One such issue has been given the nickname “text neck” – this is used to describe the damage and potential pain from looking down at a cell phone too frequently, and for long periods of time.
 
Text neck doesn’t only affect the neck, despite its name. Looking down at our phones for extended periods can also cause headaches, shoulder and back pain, and discomfort in the arms and hands.
 
Do you suffer from text neck? There are some ways to help alleviate the strain. 

​Put Down the Phone: It’s important to take regular breaks from your cell phone. Set aside the phone, be less connected for a little while, and let your muscles relax.
 
Stretch your Body: During your phone breaks, it’s a good idea to stretch. Stretch your neck from side to side, practice a few neck rolls, and don’t forget to stretch your arms, hands, and throat.
 
Focus on Posture: Throughout your day, keep thinking about your posture and make adjustments as needed. Shoulders back, chest out, neck straight and head up. The more you get used to carrying yourself this way, the better your posture will be and it will become more natural for you.
 
Look up: If you just can’t put down the phone, try holding it higher whenever possible. Instead of constantly forcing your head down, hold the phone up to where your head naturally rests for less strain on the neck and shoulders.
 
Massage: Massage can be beneficial for those strained muscles in the neck, shoulders and arms. Use massage in conjunction with the items listed above for best results.
 
Chiropractic Care: Chiropractic adjustments can focus on the many parts of the body affected by text neck and general device overuse. With a personalized treatment plan, your spine alignment can get back on track which will help prevent any further issues while relieving any current ones.
 
To help alleviate text neck and other strain and pain that comes along with it, book your appointment at Bodylab. We can treat it with massage, chiropractic, or a plan that incorporates both. Using all of these tips regularly, you can get a handle on text neck and the damage it causes to your body.