The ever-increasing presence of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile technologies, while great in many ways, has undoubtedly led to a rise in neck pain and new neck problems. Children and adults alike are spending more time tethered to their technology whether for work or play. This phenomenon has resulted in the coining of new terms to describe the neck pain and problems that happen with too much technology usage – tech neck and text neck are phrases that have become a part of our everyday vernacular.
Neck Pain Facts
Our neck, also called the cervical spine, contains seven vertebrae. Starting just underneath the base of the skull and ending where the neck transitions into the mid-back, or thoracic spine, the cervical spine is both strong and flexible. The neck must be stable enough to support the weight of the head (about 12 pounds on average for adults) and flexible enough to move your head in almost any direction.
As far as the spine goes, the neck can be particularly vulnerable to injury because of how it moves. Repetitive movements, accidents, falls, wear and tear, blows to the head or neck, and extended periods of sitting can all contribute to ongoing, chronic issues with neck pain. There are many components of the cervical spine that can serve as origins for neck pain:
- Muscles – the muscles in your neck can become sore from overuse or injury
- Ligaments – cervical spinal ligaments can become damaged from injuries (I.e. car accident, sports injury, concussion, etc.)
- Discs – degenerative disc disease occurs when the discs between the vertebrae wear thin, bulge, or herniate
- Facet joints – no different than any other joint in the body, the joints that connect the bones in your neck can degenerate with wear and tear or as a result of injury
- Spinal nerve roots – the nerves that branch off of the spinal cord in your neck can become irritated due to joint arthritis, disc degeneration, bone spurs, or spinal misalignment
The upper part of your neck where it forms a junction with the skull is of particular interest when it comes to neck pain. The vertebra that supports your head, the atlas (C1), is the most freely movable one in the entire spine. It is uniquely shaped so that it can perform its jobs – to support the weight of the head and to give the head its freedom of movement. The atlas lacks the protection and support of the discs (it has no disc above or below it) and the stability of facet joints (the joint is shaped differently so the atlas can move so freely). When the atlas misaligns slightly for any reason, it causes the rest of the neck to compensate in order to keep the head balanced in a neutral position.
The Trouble with Too Much Technology for Your Neck
The simple neck movement of looking down is not a problem in and of itself. Part of the trouble of the rising prevalence of smartphone use (and technology use in general) is that it requires the neck to be placed in this position repetitively and for extended periods of time. For every degree the head comes forward in order to look down, an ever-increasing load is placed on the neck in order to hold the head up. If you’re looking down at your phone or tablet at a 45-degree angle, then the load on the neck for an average adult is approximately 50 pounds – much more pressure than the neck is designed to bear on an ongoing basis. Putting your head and neck in this position repeatedly can, over time, lead to pain and injury to the neck for children and adults alike.
Neck pain might be the most obvious symptom of excessive technology use, but there are other conditions that can develop as a result of and in conjunction with tech neck:
- Migraines or headaches – when the neck is affected, normal neurological function, blood flow, and cerebrospinal fluid drainage can be impacted as well. These factors can contribute to the development of headaches and migraines.
- Jaw pain and TMJ disorders – neck alignment can also affect the resting position of the jaw. When the head is not centered correctly over the neck, it can put abnormal stresses on the TMJ leading to pain, imbalance, and dysfunction of the jaw.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist pain – holding your mobile devices for extended periods of time can cause wrist pain, numbness, and tingling. Additionally, the nerves that come from the neck travel through the shoulder and into the arms and hands, so compromised nerve function can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome and other wrist issues.
- Upper back pain – As the neck is forced to carry more weight as it tilts forward, the load that is placed on the upper back increases as well.
- Lower back pain and sciatica – Believe it or not, your neck pain and lower back pain have more in common than you may think. When the neck is compromised, the rest of your spine is forced to shift in compensation. Add poor posture and extended periods of sitting to the equation and it’s easy to see how your lower back can be affected and your sciatic nerve irritated.
The Upper Cervical Chiropractic Solution to Neck Pain
Upper cervical chiropractors are specialists in correcting the atlas position – the root cause of many technology-related neck problems. If you are looking for a comprehensive solution to addressing neck pain, whether it’s caused by tech neck or any of the other issues we touched on above, then upper cervical chiropractic care is the natural solution that is well-suited for children and adults alike.
At N8 Upper Cervical in Alabang, we take a thorough, methodical approach to addressing the underlying cause of your neck pain. Upper cervical chiropractic care is gentle and precise, and long-lasting results can be accomplished without the need for any forceful neck adjustments (which is great news for those whose necks are already stiff and painful!) Contact our office to learn more about our unique approach to care and how we can help you to combat tech neck to get you back to feeling your best.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/neck-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20375581
https://health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/2018-09-24/when-tech-is-a-pain-in-the-neck
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