Text Neck Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, Management

What is Text Neck Syndrome?

Text neck is defined as overuse syndrome, which is typically brought on by placing too much strain on the neck when gazing down at any portable mobile device. This condition can cause headaches, neck, shoulder, and arm pain, as well as breathing difficulties.

The term “text neck syndrome” describes a repetitive stress damage to the neck brought on by spending a lot of time with your head forward. The cervical spine’s curvature, the muscles of the neck and shoulders, and the supporting ligaments are all impacted by the forward-leaning position. A review from EC Orthopaedics states that “text neck directly affects the spine while flexing the head forward at varying degrees: the force on the neck surges to 27 pounds at 15 degrees forward tilt, 40 pounds at 30 degrees, 49 pounds at 45 degrees, and 60 pounds at 60 degrees.” Imagine carrying an 8-year-old around your neck for two to four hours to get a sense of the additional strain that is placed on your neck.

Causes:

The bad posture that results from bringing the chin closer to the chest and bending the neck when using a tablet or smartphone causes the text neck syndrome.

Tilting the head forward results in a significant increase in the strain that the neck can sustain and the muscle load in the cervical region, both of which have negative health effects.

An adult’s head typically weighs 4 to 5 kg, yet bending down to look at a phone screen can put pressure on the cervical region of the head up to 27 kg.

 The main issue is that spending more time in this position results in prolonged periods of time spent using mobile devices.

Symptoms:

Text neck syndrome manifests itself in a number of ways, including:

• Stinging or stabbing discomfort in the shoulders and neck
• Neck and shoulder stiffness or tightness, limiting range of motion
• Either persistent or sporadic headaches
• Tingling and numbness accompanied by nerve discomfort in the upper limbs
• Pain in the eye
• Muscle weakness
• Rounded shoulders

Management:

When it comes to Text Neck, prevention is crucial. While using cellphones or other handheld devices, keep the following advice from a systematic review of Text Neck in mind:

• Avoid overuse and take frequent breaks.
• Avoid long periods of motionless position
• Place the gadget so that it relieves tension on both the head/neck and the upper extremities.
• Avoid repetitive actions like extended typing or swiping.
• Avoid holding large or heavy devices in one hand for extended periods of time.

Physiotherapy Management:

• Postural Awareness
• Pain management
• Muscle Strengthening Exercises
• Stretching
• Posture correction.
• Mobilizations in collaboration
• Therapy through exercise
• Postural taping methods
• Soft tissues Massage
• Education in posture and ergonomics