(3-minute read)
Through the course of this year, my Henleaze osteopathic clinic has seen an increase in patients requiring treatment of neck pain from texting (called Text Neck Syndrome) in Bristol.
Text Neck Syndrome (TNS) is caused by poor posture from spending long periods of time texting on a mobile phone or from hours scrolling social media websites on a smartphone.
According to research published recently by the IPA, British adults now spend more time on their mobile phones than watching TV. The average time is over three hours daily.
More than 95% of UK adults now own a smartphone, equating to 53 million people, and a recent report published by Age UK highlighted that mobile phone usage is increasing in older people, which could lead to significant problems requiring the treatment of neck pain from texting across Bristol.
What causes neck pain from texting?
The use of mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones can cause people to look down for too long and too frequently. This contributes to poor posture and neck strain.
As the neck bends forward, the weight of the head increases the strain on the cervical spine (neck). At an angle of sixty degrees, this is a similar weight load to carrying an eight-year-old child around the neck.
As a person tilts their neck, their shoulders become rounded, and the spine often curves further, leading to issues from poor posture.
Poor posture causes excess strain and loading on the spinal discs, muscles and ligaments, which can create pain and inflammation, early wear and tear on the neck and back, as well as causing muscle strain, and potentially herniated (slipped) discs, nerve irritation, and even premature spinal degeneration (arthritis).
How can Text Neck Syndrome be prevented?
One of the easiest ways to prevent Text Neck Syndrome is by spending less time on a smartphone or tablet and taking regular breaks from looking at it.
Being active and moving more also helps improve neck and spine health.
As an experienced osteopath in Bristol, I advise all my patients to become ergonomically aware to improve neck posture and prevent issues such as Text Neck Syndrome.
Prevention of neck pain from texting is possible by utilising the following methods:
Looking at your mobile phone with a neutral spine position
Take regular breaks and move more (see micro breaks below)
Holding the phone close to eye-level
Not bending the neck or hunching over
Taking micro breaks every 20 minutes
What treatments are available for neck pain from texting?
Osteopathic treatment is helpful and close at hand at my Henleaze osteopathic clinic.
As with so many other musculoskeletal issues, the best motto I offer patients is that ‘prevention is better than cure’.
Keeping the body active and with mindfulness around posture can make a huge difference to overall neck health.
Mobility, stretching and strengthening exercises can all be very helpful in preventing and rehabilitating from postural neck and back issues. I take my patients through all these when consulting me.
Visit here to see some of the ways in which I can treat neck pain in Bristol.
Some patients also utilise my Maintenance Osteopathic Treatments as a way to reduce neck pain issues from happening.
For the treatment of neck pain from texting in Bristol, please book with me here.