In today's digital age, our smartphones have become indispensable, keeping us connected and informed around the clock. As executive mums, juggling the demands of work and family often means spending significant time on our phones, whether it's responding to emails, scrolling through social media or coordinating schedules. But this seemingly innocent habit can be contributing to your neck pain. In this blog, we will discuss the relationship between mobile phone usage and neck pain, both short-term discomfort and long-term health complications.
Incorrect phone usage can lead to poor neck posture, commonly referred to as forward head posture or "tech neck." This phenomenon, also prevalent among individuals who spend prolonged hours working at computers, involves the head protruding forward from its natural position.
In order to balance the forward placed head on the torso, the mid-back slouches, and the shoulders round, leading to rounding (kyphotic posture) in the mid back as well. This misalignment places strain on the muscles of the neck and upper back, resulting in discomfort and pain. Over time, this can manifest as neck, shoulder, shoulder blades and mid back pain, along with decreased energy levels and sleep disturbances. As a result, you may experience aches and pains that worsen with continued smartphone use or sedentary activities.
Watch this video for three ways to tell if you have a forward head posture:
Beyond temporary discomfort, forward head posture can exert tension on nerve roots exiting the spine, contributing to various health issues such as jaw pain, cervicogenic headaches and cervicogenic dizziness (cervical vertigo). Prolonged forward head posture can also accelerate spinal degeneration, leading to conditions like disc bulges, spinal stenosis and arthritis. This occurs as the lower part of the cervical spine is hyperflexed and the upper part is hyperextended, leading to a number of issues such as stress on the intervertebral disc and surrounding structures.
However the consequences of prolonged mobile phone usage extend far beyond temporary discomfort. Chronic forward head posture may compromise respiratory function, exacerbate shoulder pain, and contribute to tension neck syndrome, characterized by tense neck muscles and tension headaches.
Understanding how forward head posture develops with mobile phone use is crucial for recognising the impact it can have on our neck health. By becoming aware of our phone habits and making small adjustments to our posture, we can mitigate the risk of developing neck pain and related complications.
If you suffer from neck pain HERE is a free guide on "What is the cause of your Neck Pain?"
If you like this blog and want to be notified about new blogs as soon as they are published, subscribe to my mailing list below.
I would love to see you around the internet! For other places you can explore more about me: https://withswati.com/page/link
0 Comments