Is Your Phone Really a Pain in the Neck?

So how’s your posture these days? Try this: Stand comfortably in front of a mirror, relax your head and shoulders, then turn your whole body sideways. Does your head stick forward a little (or a lot) too much? That may be what we call forward-head posture (FHP)—sometimes called “Tech Neck” in non-medical fields—and it’s largely a result of (you guessed it) screen time.

Related Blog Post: Award-winning Chiro: 3 Years in a Row!

Yup, those hours behind the monitor could actually be doing some damage to your posture. Of course, other habits contribute to this painful condition as well, such as poor sleeping positions or awkward reading posture for long periods of time. But let’s be honest: your neck wouldn’t be so stiff if you didn’t HAVE to jump into that new aquatic level of Minecraft for 6 hours at a time.

You may recognize FHP by its more noticeable symptoms: TMJ dysfunction, stinging pain between your shoulder blades, and tingling in the arms and legs. But less-apparent symptoms such as insomnia and disc degeneration can be just as devastating. More often these days we see clients who are suffering from painful neck, back, and shoulder irritations due to poor posture at work, at home, and especially in front of a small screen. Unfortunately, these symptoms get worse over time. The further your head sits forward, the more pressure and weight you have sitting on your spine.

Treating forward-head posture

Meet Eadelin, our office manager (pictured above). Today she’s modeling a top-of-the-line neck roll we use to help prevent and treat forward-head posture. Come to see us if you’re suffering from poor posture and we’ll even throw in this free, highly-advanced polyethylene device used for the treatment of chronic neck strain and pain due to poor posture. Okay, it’s a pool noodle cut into thirds but we’ll still give you one as long as the dollar store down the street has ‘em in stock. Here’s what you do:

1. Place the neck roll on a firm but comfortable surface
2. Lay on your back with the neck roll resting just above your shoulders where your neck begins.
3. Breathe deeply for 10 minutes—close your eyes and rest if you like
4. Repeat every day and you’ll feel (and see!) the improvement in your posture

Related: What Does a Chiropractor Do?

Contact Us for an Assessment

There are dozens of symptoms of FHP. As we come to the end of National Posture Awareness Month, it’s important to be conscious of the habits and activities that contribute to poor posture and the more serious (and painful) conditions it invites. To get an idea of the full picture, call us at (780) 466-7111 and book an assessment. We’ll help you get your neck and spine into alignment.