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We Have a Tech-Neck Problem — Here's How to Deal With It

Heads down, shoulders hunched, spines strained — welcome to the age where millennials and Gen Zs carry the weight of their digital lives on their shoulders…quite literally. The result? Tech or text neck. The epidemic can be attributed to mindless doom scrolling, binge-watching, or spiralling down the TikTok rabbit hole, where poor posture and unhealthy skin, specifically in the neck and chest region, await. “Tech neck is a modern, ‘trending’ term used to describe neck and upper back pain, stiffness, and postural dysfunction caused by prolonged forward head posture often from looking down at phones, tablets, or laptops,” explains Florence Penny, consultant musculoskeletal physiotherapist and founder,…

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Featured

 How to Avoid Tech Neck in the Age of Zoom

In our modern world, tech neck was already a burgeoning phenomenon—but in the age of increased working from home, with many of us still holding meetings virtually, it's taken on a new life.

Articles of Interest

Can adult tummy time undo the dreaded ‘tech neck’ that comes from hunching over a screen?

‘Fixing’ your posture won’t change how you sit, so while it’s low risk, there are probably better exercises to help maintain a range of movement

Dealing with ‘Tech Neck’? These Exercises and Prevention Tips May Help

These expert-led stretches and exercises may help provide relief for tech-burdened necks.

Do you have text neck? How phones are affecting us physically

Experts say they frequently see people in pain from smartphone use. Here’s how to avoid common problems

Here’s What Happens to Your Spine When You’re Constantly Texting

Looking down at your phone can add up to 60 pounds of pressure on your spine, depending on the angle. That’s according to a new study from spinal surgeon Dr. Kenneth Hansraj and published in Surgical Technology International.

Tech neck: what are smartphones doing to our bodies?

Bending your head to use a phone stresses the spine, say chiropractors – and that’s not the only way the devices are injuring and changing us

Your Cell Phone Is Causing Tech Neck, Here’s How to Fix It

If you already have tech neck, there are a few ways to improve it. You may want to seek out a more ergonomic office chair or get a new neck-supporting pillow to ensure that your sleep position does not aggravate your issues. Physical activities may also reduce your pain quickly. Something as simple as a stretching routine could significantly impact your existing tech neck discomfort. "Stretches should be done regularly, especially after prolonged periods of device use," says Dr. Kyle Smith. "Do a variety of stretches that aim to increase range of motion and strengthen neck musculature."

‘Tech neck is the real deal.’ Why pain is on the rise from looking down at laptops and phones — and what to do about it

It is not laptops, tablets and cellphones that cause tech neck, but the ergonomically incorrect use of them.

Resources

10 Tech Neck Exercises to Relieve Tension From Your Upper Body

Spending hours every day looking down at your phone and laptop might get you caught up on work and social media, but it can be so tough on your neck and shoulders that it's prompted the rise of a new term: Tech neck. The phrase describes that slight forward tilt to your head that becomes problematic when you're in that position for too long, according to Carol Mack, DPT, CSCS, a physical therapist and strength coach at CLE Sports PT & Performance in Cleveland. The neck muscles lengthen in the back, creating strain, while shortening in the front, causing your shoulders to round, creating a hunch or “lump” in the area where the top of the back meets the neck.

4 ways to fix ‘tech neck,’ according to a physical therapist

f you’re here seeking relief from tech neck, or the forward head posture associated with the use of personal devices, we’ve got good and bad news. The good news is you’ve come to the right place; the bad news is you’re probably contributing to it right now.

7 Exercises to Soothe Your Sore Neck and Shoulders

For thousands of years, humans have hunched over to light fires, care for our children and harvest plants. But the modern version of this position — curving forward from focus or fatigue, then lifting our chins to stare at our screens — can lead to pain for many people. This neck and upper back discomfort is often called “tech neck” or “text neck.” And experts say that it’s not necessarily the position itself that is a problem, but the amount of time we spend in it.