Is Your Smartphone Causing You Neck Pain?

Do you frequently experience neck pain? If you do, you know that it is no joke. Many people experience neck pain and disregard or ignore it after resting or enjoying a good night’s sleep. However, it is necessary to understand one vital fact: Your neck pain may be an indication of an underlying health condition. 

Whenever you experience pain in any part of your body, know that something is wrong. You should not shrug off any pain you experience, especially if it affects a part of your body daily or regularly. Do you frequently experience pain in any part of your neck or back? If you do, your cervical spine or nerves could have a problem. 

Relationship Between Neck Pain and Smartphones

There is no secret that almost everyone loves technology. After all, it can help you do so much, including staying in touch with your loved ones and staying connected. Unfortunately, many people do not know that excessive and improper use of a smartphone, tablet, or computer can cause neck pain. 

Of course, not all technology you frequently use will cause neck pain. However, some modern gadgets such as cellphones and tablets can cause you to experience pain in your neck. That said, a smartphone or tablet is a useful device that can make your life easier, depending on the way and how often you use it every day. 

How Much Does Your Head Weigh?

On average, an adult’s head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds. This fact may surprise you, but it is true. As you angle or tilt your head forward, you strain your neck muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support your head when static and during movement. Your neck’s intervertebral disks also help distribute and absorb much of the force you exert on your neck. 

Is Your Head Heavier When You Tilt It Forward?

According to one study published in Surgical Technology International, tilting your head at 15 degrees may equate to 27 pounds of head weight. When you tilt it at 30 degrees, the strain on your neck may equal a 40-pound head. Essentially, the greater the tilting angle, the greater the strain on your neck. 

How Long Do You Use Your Smartphone?

Nowadays, the average person uses their smartphone or tablet for two to four hours every day. Essentially, you tilt your head for hours to look at your smartphone every day. Teens in the U.S. spend more time doing so. 

When looking at your smartphone or tablet, tilt your head forward and move your shoulders forward. This is one aspect of poor posture, which often causes neck and back pain. Furthermore, the excess strain created can wear and tear the structures of your neck and upper spine. 

Tricks to Feel Better

To prevent smartphone-related neck pain, you need to improve your posture. Spine and back specialists recommend straightening up, looking forward, and arching your back while using your smartphone or tablet. 

For more on neck pain, visit Whiplash Pain Center at our offices in Summerville, Charleston, North Charleston, or Holly Hill, South Carolina. You can call (843) 281-7837, (843) 636-7246, (843) 350-5022, or (803) 496-3338 to book an appointment today.