Does Texting Cause Neck Pain

Your texting habits may be the root cause of your neck pain. With so many people spending exorbitant amounts of time texting, browsing the web and watching videos on their phones, it’s no wonder more people are going in chiropractors’ offices complaining of neck pain. It’s gotten to the point where chiropractors have coined a term for the condition: Text Neck. And it can not only cause pain in the neck, but in the upper back and cause excruciating headaches.

Having pain in your neck or back? We can help. Call our friendly office today at (360) 636-2636. 

Why Texting Causes Neck Pain

So, why does texting cause neck pain anyway? If you spend a lot of time looking down at your phone or tablet, you’re inadvertently underusing and overusing the muscles in the front and back of your neck.

Your neck is similar to your lower back. Both have a similar curve. When your neck is out of its healthy neutral positon, it distorts this natural curve. As a result, the ligaments that support the cervical spine slowly start to become deformed. The ligaments in the back of your neck become overstretched, while the ligaments in the front of your neck become constricted and shortened. If the problem isn’t addressed, it will eventually cause a reversal of your neck’s natural curvature – even if you return to a neutral position.

In severe cases, the misalignments in the neck cause a kyphotic curve, or a reverse of your neck’s natural curve. This adds stress to your joints, discs, muscles and nerves. Eventually, these structures will wear out, causing your neck to degenerate prematurely. It can also lead to bulging discs and loss of sensation in the arms.

Correcting Text Neck

Text Neck can be difficult to correct, especially if you’ve been simply masking the problem by taking over-the-counter pain medications. A change in behavior, which may also include spending less time texting, is also required.

The good news is that Text Neck can be fixed. Your chiropractor will provide you with a list of exercises that will strengthen the underused muscles in your neck to help correct the problem and restore your neck’s natural curve.

Your chiropractor may also recommend spending less time texting or ensuring your neck remains in a neutral position when you do use your phone.

Back Pain Treatment in Longview, WA

Whether you are experiencing neck pain from texting or sitting at a desk too long, any pain causes serious interruptions to your daily life. At Family Chiropractic Care in Longview, WA, our staff is concerned with how your body feels and functions and we are skilled with back pain treatment. Give us a call today at (360) 636-2636.