Staying Safe At Work

How Your Chiropractor Can Help Your Neck And Back Pain Caused By Reading Your Phone And Texting

28 December 2020

Brent Chapman

If you spend a lot of time on your smartphone texting or chatting on social media sites, you might develop pain in your neck or upper back if you don't maintain good posture. Keeping your head bent down or sitting hunched over while you text puts a strain on your neck and spine. If you've been having neck or back pain, you may want to see a chiropractor for treatments that can help. Here's why poor posture and texting leads to spinal problems and how a chiropractor might treat your condition.

Why Texting Leads To Neck And Back Pain

Texting for long periods or reading a book on a smartphone doesn't have to lead to neck pain. It's when you hold your phone low so you have to bend your head down to read that trouble begins.

Your head is heavier than you might think. It puts a lot of weight on your neck, and when your neck is not in the proper alignment, this can lead to neck strain and eventually misalignment of your spine.

The problem is made worse if you spend a lot of time using your phone and if you're also sedentary. The muscles in your neck and back might get weak or strained and cause more pain. When your spine moves out of proper alignment, that can have far-reaching effects, too, since the nerves in your spine run to various parts of your body.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help Your Neck

Chiropractic treatments help align your spine. When your spine is in the proper alignment, you should feel less pain and you might even have an improved posture. In addition to providing you with chiropractic adjustments, the chiropractor might teach you neck and back exercises and stretches. Some exercises work to strengthen muscles weakened due to poor posture while texting.

Stretching exercises can help with flexibility and range of motion. By taking breaks throughout the day to stretch your neck and back, you might offset some of the strain you put on your neck by using a smartphone.

How You Can Prevent Neck Problems From Texting

You might prevent neck problems from developing if you maintain good posture while reading your phone. Hold the phone up so you can look straight at it rather than having to bend your head forward. Try to keep your back straight too.

If you have problems maintaining good posture, your chiropractor might be able to help with chiropractic treatments and exercises that strengthen your back and core muscles. Also, try to use your phone in shorter sessions so you can change positions frequently. You might want to add yoga or similar exercises to your daily routine so you stretch regularly and become more active.

Contact a local chiropractic care service for more information.

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