Text neck is a type of repetitive stress injury that occurs when you spend too much time looking down at your mobile device. Pain and stiffness in the neck and headaches are common symptoms. If you have a text neck, Hialeah Wellness and Rehab Center in Hialeah and Miami can help you find relief.

What are the Causes and Symptoms of Text Neck?

Text neck is caused by craning your head forward at an angle. You perform the motion over and over as you look at your cell phone, without you even realizing the danger. When your neck is straight, your head places about 10 lbs of pressure on it. Bend your neck 15 degrees, and it increases to 27 lbs. If you tilt your head extremely far forward, the pressure increases to 50-60 lbs. That is at least 5 times the weight normally supported by your neck.

How Can I Prevent Neck Pain?

The first way to prevent the neck pain associated with the text neck is to change how you hold your phone. Hold your phone at eye level. Shift your eyes down instead of tilting your head down. Second, take breaks from your phone. Even just a few minutes every hour can help to prevent neck pain. The habit of looking down at your device is hard for most people to break. Ironically, help can come in the form of an app. The Text Neck App monitors your posture and alerts you when you're in the text neck zone.

How is Text Neck Treated?

The strain caused by texting causes misalignment in the spine and tension in the muscles in the neck and shoulders. A chiropractor can treat these issues with spinal adjustment and other treatments. Treatments can restore alignment and relieve neck pain. However, a long-lasting fix also requires some work on your part. Corrective exercises and stretches can help you prevent the text neck and repair the damage that has already occurred.

One of the simplest and most effective is the exaggerated nod. Sit down and tilt your head back. Try to look at the ceiling. This will stretch the muscles in your neck. The downward dog yoga pose will stretch your chest and shoulders, which are often tight if you have a text neck. Your chiropractor may prescribe other exercises as well.

Call Hialeah Wellness and Rehab Center Today!

Chiropractic care can provide relief from neck pain, and help prevent it before it starts. Text neck does not have to be a pain in your neck any longer. If you are in Hialeah or Miami, contact Hialeah Wellness and Rehab Center.