Neck pain and smartphones: text-neck pain

The number of 16 to 24 year-olds suffering from back or neck pain has risen by 60% in recent years!

Whose fault is that? Your smartphone!

Let’s take a closer look at the term “text-neck”, its consequences, and what can be done to alleviate the problem, in the following article…

Causes

These days, everyone (not just teenagers) owns a smartphone. Sure, that smartphone lets us surf the web, chat, send e-mails, watch videos and much more…

The other side of the coin is that it sometimes becomes an obsession, and we find ourselves using it whenever we have 5 minutes to spare, in any situation, and sometimes even while walking…

Often to the detriment of our posture! Think about it for a moment…

We look at our smartphone while tilting our head downwards, chin to chest, inducing a strong tension in our cervical muscles.

This is where the term “text-neck” or “message-neck” comes from, symbolizing the pain in the back of the neck after using a cell phone. Of course, the problem can be extended to tablets, computers and other digital devices.

And while it may seem like a laughing matter at first glance, the problem is real, and it’s only getting worse!

Symptoms

Our heads weigh an average of 4 to 5 kg, and our cervical vertebrae, which are the thinnest of all vertebrae, are not designed to bear such weight over a long period of time.

This position of tension in the cervical area is bound to induce neck pain, which may worsen, or even lead to neck deformity…

Solutions

The most logical solution is to reduce the amount of time you spend on your smartphone or other portable digital device. If you can’t do that, or it’s really impossible to get away from it, then you’ll have to tackle your posture.

No longer place your smartphone at stomach level, but lift it up so that it’s parallel to your eyes. This way, the position of your arms, and above all the back of your neck, will be perfectly healthy. As the tension in your cervical muscles is relieved, the pain will gradually diminish and eventually disappear.

Note that this advice doesn’t just apply to smartphones. Try using a tablet rest when watching movies, or think about your posture at the office, for example.

Another recommendation is to take breaks, whether you’re working on your computer or your smartphone. Remember to breathe, stretch your neck and relax your shoulders periodically. And above all, teach your children the right postures, as they are undoubtedly just as affected by this phenomenon as you are.

If the pain persists after a week, and despite our advice, consult your doctor.

Article by : Francis Galineri | Review guidelines | Review consultants
Last updated on 18 February 2025.
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