What is Text Neck Syndrome?

We live in a time of continuous advancements within the technological space as well as the job/working sector. With the development of new technologies in the 21^st century, we as physical healthcare professionals (Chiropractors) have been noticing a fairly new phenomenon that is starting to show up more and more on our radars as technology advances through time. This is occurring now more than ever and at an accelerated rate as technology improves. You may be wondering what I am referring to with this phenomenon at this point…’TEXT NECK’ syndrome!

Text neck syndrome is a commonly used term which refers to an overuse syndrome or a repetitive stress injury that occurs as a result of spending long periods of time on a mobile device such as but not limited to a mobile cell phone or even a laptop. This is not an official medical diagnosis and the name was coined by Dr. Dean L. Fisherman who is a chiropractor from the United States.

Text neck syndrome occurs as the user of a mobile device often tends to hold their cell phone much lower than their eye level or work on a laptop which is also placed lower than their eye level, resulting in the user of the device spending long periods of time with their head and neck placed in a flexed position. This causes the muscles of the neck, upper back and shoulders to be placed a position of constant tension which results in muscle strain and joint contracture.

Symptoms