Tech Neck refers to chronic pain or stiffness that occurs when an individual tilted his head downwards while looking at the technology such as a phone or a computer for an extended period. Although Tech Neck is not an official medical term, it becomes more common because many Americans spend an average of Half and half A day watching their phones. Fortunately, Luke HiattMD, deputy professor in the University of Alabama in Birmingham Orthopedic surgery departmentsaid there are stages that individuals can take to relieve part of the discomfort that comes with the neck of technology.
“We have certainly noticed an increase in tensions of the neck and shoulder in recent years with the increased prevalence of smartphone use and time,” said Hiatt, certified orthopedic surgeon and stock market UAB medication. “When the neck is in a flexible position forward, it translates into a very bad ergonomic posture and increases stress on the discs and neck tissues.”
This flexible position forward can cause pain in the neck and shoulders, or more serious problems such as back and shoulder pain, body pain and migraine and tension headaches.
Symptoms
Some of the technology’s neck symptoms include pain or stiffness in the neck, upper back or shoulders; Limited mobility in the neck, upper back or shoulders; headache; And the front head posture accompanied by rounded shoulders.
Hiatt says that certain symptoms of the red flag should look for patients including those who may indicate compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerves.
Although Tech Necy is not an official medical term, it becomes more common because many Americans spend an average of four and a half hours a day looking at their phones.“The neurological symptoms will generally manifest as a pain in the shoulder or arm; numbness in the arms, hand, legs and feet; and in extreme cases, engine dysfunction, including a reduced resistance in the arms, hands and legs, or difficulties of balance and coordination,” said Hiatt. “All of these neurological symptoms should cause consultation with a doctor.”
Treatment
“The majority of these problems can be treated in a conservative way,” said Hiatt. “Massage of deep tissues can be useful for breaking muscle pain and tensions. Deep tissue percussion devices can also be very useful, but I advise you to consult your doctor and review the appropriate technique before using these types of devices.
Hiatt claims that physiotherapy is also useful for concentration on the posture of the right neck, as well as for the strengthening and stabilization of shoulder and paraspinal muscles. Physiotherapy references can generally be obtained by a primary care doctor or a spine / orthopedic column specialist.
Prevention
“The most poignant, undoubtedly the best treatment is to avoid the overuse injury associated with the posture of the neck forward,” said Hiatt. “The more time spent with the incubated neck forward to watching a smartphone, the more it will increase the stress applied to the neck and shoulders. Trying to take frequent breaks when using your device and the time limitation in general can be very useful for the health of the neck and general well-being. ”
Some other prevention tips include:
- Keep the screen in terms of your eyes.
- Maintain a neutral spine posture where the head, the hips and the spine are aligned.
- Sitting down, align the hips with your knees and keep your feet flat on the ground.
- Raise the cuffs and ensure that the elbows are folded at a 90 -degree angle.
- Get up and move every hour to take a break from the body to sit.
UAB Orthopedic Services of Medicine Carry to patients with injuries and diseases that affect the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of bones, muscles, joints and ligaments. The team of doctors offers specialized care in fields such as sports medicine, spine, hand and upper members, feet and ankle, joints, oncology, pediatrics and trauma. Patients who experience chronic pain in the neck and shoulders can call 205-930-8339 to make an appointment today.