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How Text Neck Affects Your Posture and Health

Dr. Brett Berner
4 min readJun 2, 2024

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In today’s digital age, our smartphones are like a part of us. We use them for talking, finding out things, having fun, and much more. But using them a lot can affect how we sit and our spine health. In this blog, we’ll talk about something called “text neck,” how it affects how we sit, and give you some tips on how to avoid it.

What is Text Neck?

Text neck is a modern problem that happens when we use smartphones and other handheld devices a lot. When we use these devices, we tend to tilt our heads forward and look down. This posture, with the head tilted forward and the shoulders rounded, puts a lot of strain on the neck, upper back, and shoulders. This can cause various health problems over time.

How Does Text Neck Impact Posture?

1. Neck and Shoulder Pain: Text neck often causes neck and shoulder pain because leaning forward puts extra strain on your neck muscles and spine.

2. Headaches: Text neck can also lead to tension headaches. This happens when your neck and upper back muscles are tense from leaning forward too much.

3. Reduced Lung Capacity: Bad posture can limit how much your chest and diaphragm can expand when you breathe. This might make you feel more tired and affect your breathing.

4. Spinal Misalignment: Using mobile devices with poor posture for a long time can cause your spine to get out of alignment. This can lead to health problems beyond just pain.

How to Prevent Text Neck

Here’s how you can prevent text neck and keep your posture and spine healthy:

1. Hold Your Phone Higher: Keep your phone at eye level so you don’t need to bend your neck forward to see the screen.

2. Take Breaks Often: Avoid using your phone for long periods. Take short breaks to stretch your neck and shoulders and adjust your posture.

3. Use Voice Commands: Use your phone’s voice recognition for texting and other tasks to reduce the time you spend looking down.

4. Use Phone Accessories: Try using stands or holders to raise your phone to eye level. This can greatly reduce strain on your neck and shoulders.

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Dr. Brett Berner
Dr. Brett Berner

Written by Dr. Brett Berner

Upper Cervical Chiropractor in Lutz, FL. Schedule a complimentary consultation: text CONSULT to 813-578-5889 or www.foundationschedule.com

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