TEXT NECK: WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO PREVENT IT?

"Text neck" is a term describing a health condition in which a person adopt an unhealthy posture. In an upright posture, the head normally weighs about 10 to 12 lbs. When texting on a phone, you will bend the head forward and look down which places about 50 to 60 lbs of force and pressure on the neck which makes it bend forward.

This condition can cause stress injuries often seen as cervical and shoulder pain, headaches and thoracic hyperkyphosis.

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain in the neck, upper back and/or shoulder

• Forward posture and rounded shoulders

• Reduced mobility and pain with neck flexion

• Headache

5 Easy Ways to prevent it

1. Raise the phone up closer to eye level

2. Stand up straight with the chin tucked in and shoulders pulled back

3. Arch the neck and upper back backward to ease muscle pain

4. Spend some time away from the phone or any type of forward head posture

5. Exercise regularly