Text neck – can it have serious consequences?

Nowadays, most of us spend hours using mobile phones, tablets and other mobile devices.

Unfortunately, this habit can lead to serious health problems, including the so-called SMS neck, which is increasingly diagnosed in people of all ages. In this article, we will take a closer look at this phenomenon and its potential consequences.

Text neck – what is it?

Text neck, also known as text neck, is a term used to describe chronic pain and discomfort in the neck, shoulder, and back area caused by excessive forward tilt of the head while using mobile devices. It is typical for the head to be tilted 45 degrees or more when looking at a phone or tablet screen, which puts additional strain on the spine.

Symptoms of text neck syndrome

Symptoms of text neck can vary, but the most common include:

• Pain and tension around the neck, shoulders and back.
• Headache and migraines.
• Difficulty focusing on distant objects.
• Reduced neck mobility.
• Posture problems.

These symptoms can be bothersome and negatively impact everyday functioning.

Text neck – what are the consequences?

Overexposure to text neck syndrome can lead to more serious health consequences. Prolonged tilting of the head forward may cause overload of the neck and spine muscles, which in turn may lead to damage to the intervertebral discs and degeneration of the cervical spine.

In addition, text neck can affect our posture, which can lead to other health problems such as breathing problems, difficulty concentrating and reduced self-confidence.

Texting neck syndrome – treatment

If you are experiencing symptoms of text neck, it is important to take steps to relieve the pain and restore the health of your spine. Treatment may include:

• Physiotherapy to strengthen the neck and back muscles.
• Therapeutic massage to relieve muscle tension.
• Posture strengthening exercises.
• Limiting time spent on mobile devices.
• Taking painkillers under medical supervision.

In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary, but this is usually a last resort.

How to prevent text neck?

To prevent texting neck, it is worth following a few simple rules:

• Raising the mobile device to your eyes instead of tilting your head.
• Regular breaks from using mobile devices.
• Exercises to stretch the neck and back muscles.
• Taking care of correct body posture.
• Maintaining moderate physical activity.

Text neck – exercises for text neck

Here are some simple exercises that can help prevent text neck:

1. Exercise 1: Gently tilt your head forward and sideways, holding each position for a few seconds.
2. Exercise 2: Rotate your head left and right, trying to touch your ear with your shoulder.
3. Exercise 3: Tilt your head back, avoiding pressing your chin tightly to your chest.
4. Exercise 4: Lifting your head up and down several times.

Do these exercises regularly to strengthen your neck muscles and relieve tension.

Your suggestions

If you have your own experiences with text neck or valuable suggestions for preventing it, please feel free to share them in the comments. Together we can help others avoid this unpleasant health problem.

Recommended articles

If you want to learn more about spine health and maintaining good posture, we recommend reading the following articles:

• “Maintaining correct posture – why is it important?”
• “How to take care of your spine while working at a desk?”
• “The importance of physical activity for a healthy spine.”

Remember that a healthy spine is the key to an active and comfortable life, so it is worth taking care of it now to avoid problems in the future.