text neck

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The next tech-driven malady: 'Text Neck'

Plantation chiropractor spreads the word about posture and pain problems, creates app to help mobile device users

Daniel Vasquez on consumer issues

Sun Sentinel Columnist

6:58 AM EDT, October 18, 2010

Jennifer Chambers of Fort Lauderdale knew something was wrong when she noticed chronic pain shooting down her neck, through her arms to her fingertips, whenever she used her cell phone or laptop for prolonged periods.

Jenny Ottoson of Plantation sought medical help after suffering several years' of neck, back and shoulder pain that often flared up shortly after using her cell phone and laptop.

Chambers and Ottoson both have one thing in common, bouts of what Plantation chiropractor Dean L. Fishman calls "text neck."

It's the modern equivalent of tennis elbow, Fishman says, but instead of being brought on by sports activities it is exacerbated by improper posture while using smart phones, netbooks, iPads or any other mobile device.

"I had been talking about the problem with patients for years, using correct medical terms, but it was hard for people to understand what was going on until I gave it a name like 'Text Neck,'" says Fishman, who runs a sports rehabilitation practice.

Although the name has not caught on widely with the medical community, other experts say the relationship between bad posture and the use of mobile devices is a legitimate concern.

"I have not heard of text neck, but theoretically anytime you hold your neck in an awkward position for a prolonged time it will cause inflammation and irritation," said Jeffrey Cantor, a spine surgeon and founder of the South Florida Spine Clinic in Fort Lauderdale. "That could ultimately damage joints and cause arthritis."

Fortunately, fixing the ailment can be relatively simple, particularly when the condition is caught early. Experts recommend taking regular breaks when using mobile devices and resisting the temptation to flex the neck too much while using them. Fishman teaches his patients how to hold cell phones and mobile devices properly. He also advocates exercises that develop neck and shoulder muscles and chiropractic adjustments.

Fishman also developed a mobile phone app that helps alert users of a posture problem while texting or playing games on Android phones.

He came up with the name a year ago while trying to explain to a patient's mother why the girl was in pain. He noticed her teen-aged daughter in the corner texting friends, bending her neck forward as she typed. "I told the mom, 'See, that's what I am talking about, text neck.'"

Since then Fishman has been spreading the word to his patients that the condition can be painful and cause a lifetime of hurt if not corrected and treated. Today he says he treats patients daily with the problem.

Having spent years using mobile devices and experiencing similar pains, I have to say I had my "ah ha" moment after speaking with Fishman. Chambers, a patient care coordinator at a urgent care facility in Broward County who often uses her cell phone to text patients and doctors, had her "ah ha" moment after seeking help for chronic pain.

"I had pain for quite a long time after using cell phones and laptops," she said. "Now I know what a big thing posture is when using them."

Chambers said her condition has improved significantly since she began treatments with Fishman, which include chiropractic adjustments and a recommended exercise regimen at home. The chiropractic part takes about 10 minutes per session, she said. Initially, she went for adjustments about three times a week, but now goes in once a month.

Fishman charges his text-neck clients $45 per office visit, the same he charges other patients for similar treatments. Anyone considering such chiropractic treatments should check with their insurance carriers to find out whether they are covered.

Chambers said her exercises involve lying on her stomach and holding her head up for 10 seconds, releasing, and starting again, about 10 repetitions each time. Another exercise involves standing with the back of her feet against a wall and raising her hands "in angel motions."

"I have absolutely noticed a significant reduction in pain since I started these treatments," Chambers said.

Ottoson agrees. "I still have pain now and then, but not the flare-ups I used to get all the time," she said. Ottoson also uses the Text Neck app on her Android 2 phone.

The app works in the background, presenting a green or red light in the top left corner of the screen while users text. A green light means proper posture, red means the opposite. Users can adjust the app to beep or vibrate for posture alerts as well. The Text Neck App is available for $2.99 at the Android Market at android.com/market/. It is not available on iPhone, BlackBerries or other devices because of technical issues involving native operating systems, but Fishman hopes to overcome those in the future.

"Text Neck is basically a new name for a well-recognized disorder," said Jerome M. True, who also runs a chiropractic practice in Martin County, north of Palm Beach County.

In the past, True said, the disorder was brought on by poor posture while someone bent their neck to read a book in their lap or by a sports activity. "The problem with texting is," True said, "it is second nature for kids to lean forward to see the screen of the device in their lap, which causes fatigue and repetitive injury to the muscles in the neck and upper back."

"When the 12- to 20-year-olds of today get to be 40 years old, it will be most problematic and difficult to correct," he added.

Daniel Vasquez can be reached at CondoColumn@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4219 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              954-356-4219      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or 561-243-6686 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              561-243-6686      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. His condo column runs Wednesdays in Your Money and at SunSentinel.com/condos. Check out Daniel's Condos & HOAs blog for news, information and tips related to life in community associations at SunSentinel.com/condoblog. You can also read his consumer column Mondays in Your Money and at sunsentinel.com/vasquez.

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