Technology is something that more and we cannot live without, and it makes a lot of things easier. Our posture is one area where technology does not assist us. It seems to escape our thoughts to sit up straight whether on the computer, on the phone, or on a tablet. We all end up in a hunched over posture gazing down when using our phones, which is where the name "text neck" comes from. Text neck puts a lot of pressure on the joints and muscles in your neck and upper back, causing neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, and even breathing difficulties. Pain physicians get patients complaining about text neck almost every day. Here are the symptoms.

The Symptoms

• Text neck has a variety of negative effects, the most of which do not appear immediately but build over time.

• The most obvious sign of text neck is neck pain, which is caused by increased pressure and stress on the joints and muscles.

• Another typical symptom is headaches, which can be caused by tension, tightness, or a loss of motion in the neck.

• Shoulder Pain Your shoulder is formed by many of the muscles that run through your neck. Your shoulders will also move forward as your neck moves forward.

• Proximal cross syndrome is the medical term for the text neck posture that develops over time, even when you aren't using your phone. This posture promotes stiffness in the chest and upper back muscles, as well as weakness in the mid back and neck muscles, over time.

• Breathing problems might arise when you're hunched forward and breathing shallow because your shoulders and rib cage are inhibiting your lungs' expansion.

• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome occurs when muscles or joints in the shoulder squeeze a nerve in your arm, resulting in pins and needles, numbness, or weakness. When sleeping on one side or performing a work with the hands above the head, this is a regular occurrence.

Relieving Text Neck Pain

Reduce the amount of time you spend on your phone or tablet. While it may be more convenient to search something up or quickly check emails/Facebook on your mobile device, if you plan to be online for an extended period of time, utilize your computer – just make sure it's set up correctly!

Adjust your position. Use your phone in a way that doesn't require you to look down for long periods of time, or switch positions every 5 minutes or so. Try the following positions:

• Lie on your stomach with your device in front of your eyes;

• Lie on your back with your device above your head;

• Lift your arms with your device in front of your face

Lower your head and look down. Although it is easy to look down with your entire head, looking down with your eyes can lessen neck discomfort.

Get up and move every 30 minutes. Get up, walk around, and exercise your neck on a regular basis. Set a timer for every 30 minutes if you know you'll be on your smartphone for an extended amount of time to remind you to get up and move.

Finally, and most crucially, have your spine examined by a physician. Correcting any functional problems with your spine, along with exercises, stretches, and better posture, may assist to eliminate any underlying issues that contributed to the development of your text neck. See us at Oklahoma Pain Treatment. Ask our pain physicians for more details.

**Disclaimer: This blog post does not establish terms of a doctor-patient relationship and is not intended to be taken as a doctor's advice.