How to avoid “text neck”
Many more sore necks have cropped up, thanks to the ever-increasing use of cell phones and tablets. Does this position look familiar?
(I borrowed the following three images from forwardheadposturefix.com)
The red area gets mad, and quick. The problem with all of this looking down at devices is that the whole shoulder/head/mid back collapse forward, meaning the head goes forward, the shoulders round forward, and the middle of the back pops out into the letter “c” (for camel!)
Look how much weight your head coming forward puts on your spine:
You add 10 lbs of stress on neck, shoulders, back, and spine every inch your head pops forward!
An inch isn’t much!
I know you have seen people that look like the blue guy below on the right hand side. It makes my stomach turn, because there is a litany of symptoms that person might be experiencing beyond the “headaches, brain fog, and looking old” referenced below.
However, I think you can use 1 simple exercise to help out your head and neck instead of the 10 exercises advertised above.
Wanna know which one it is?
Hint: I have blogged about it before, but with a different symptom fix in mind: sinuses.
Remember this blog about sinuses?
Well, that same exercise works like a charm for “text neck” too!
Give this a try:
What you need is a wall, or a door, or a even a tree. Simply use this vertical frame of reference to put your head, hips, and heels against. Walls are very straight up and down, and that is what we want you to be! Stay there for 1 and 1/2 minutes (longer is ideal…) and make sure to keep all three contact points on the wall/tree/door for the entire time.
Now walk forward off of your vertical reference point.
Does it feel weird?
Sometimes it does!
I always say to clients, “Welcome to straight up and down!” 🙂
We know you are going to use your devices like my sweet coworkers below.
But its easy to ….Prevent that text neck! Let me know in the comments below how this exercise worked for you….
