herald news
Neck pain and headaches linked to texting
From Submitted Reports
Last Modified: Sep 19, 2010 09:15PM
JOLIET -- More teens and young adults these days are suffering from headaches, tingling in the arm and neck pain resulting from too much leaning over hand-held devices and texting, according to Chiro One Wellness Centers.
"  'Text neck' is a forward-head posture resulting from excessive strain on the spine from looking in a forward and downward position at any hand-held mobile device, mobile phone, video game unit, computer, mp3 player, or e-reader," said Dr. Andrea Blake, clinic director of Chiro One Wellness Center of Joliet. "This forward head posture can cause headaches, neck pain, shoulder and arm pain."
According to a recent study of 800 students ages of 12 to 17 conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project and the University of Michigan Department of Communication Studies, teenage girls send or receive an average of 80 text messages a day, and one third of teens who have cell phones text more than 100 messages daily. Teens use cell phone texts to communicate more than any other form of interaction, even face-to-face talking and instant messaging, according to the study.
Possible problems associated with "text neck" include: headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, gastrointestinal issues, loss of lung capacity, pinched nerve and spine degeneration.
Chiro One Wellness Centers predicts that "text neck" is going to reach epidemic proportions because everyone is using some kind of hand-held device.
To avoid "text neck," Chiro One Wellness Centers suggests:
* Lift phone up and text at eye level rather than leaning over the phone, and look down with your eyes and gently tuck your chin in, not forward.
* Remember your posture. Sit upright, keeping your ears over your shoulders and hold the device below your heart.
* Keep the device 90 degrees perpendicular to your fingers as you press the buttons and use two hands to type.
* Support your forearms on a pillow during extended texting to reduce the strain on your neck and shoulder muscles.
* Remember to take a break to stretch and shake out the hands and stop when it hurts.
* Return only urgent e-mails. Respond to other e-mails from your computer.
* Do some stretches. Warm up hands by stretching the wrist backward for 2 to 3 seconds, then forward for 2 to 3 seconds. Spread your fingers as wide apart as you can and hold them for 2 to 3 seconds. Tuck your chin in and make a double chin, hold for 2 to 3 seconds. Fold your hands together and turn your palms away as you extend your arms forward.
* Monitor the time you spend on the phone or personal digital assistant (PDA) and be conscious of the risks involved with excessive use of PDAs or cell phones.
* Download new "Text Neck for Android" application at NeuroTilt.com to find out if you are at risk.
Chiro One Wellness Centers is offering free "text neck" posture checks in September. For more information, log on to ChiroOne.net/Events.
For location information, visit www.ChiroOne.net/locations or call 877-724-4761 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 877-724-4761 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
Copyright © 2010 — Sun-Times Media, LLC
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