Do you ever find yourself hunching over your phone or laptop for hours on end, only to feel a sharp pain in your neck later? You’re not alone. In today’s digital age, many of us spend countless hours scrolling through social media feeds and typing away at our keyboards without realizing the toll it takes on our bodies. In this blog post, we’ll explore the link between technology use and chronic neck pain, and provide tips for how to prevent it from affecting your life. So sit up straight and read on to learn more!
How Smartphones Affect the Neck
Smartphones, laptops, and other devices are known to cause chronic neck pain. In a study of 46 patients who complained of neck pain, 23% reported that their symptoms were aggravated by using a laptop or smartphone. The most common sources of neck pain were attributed to the use of smartphones (43%), followed by laptops (39%).
A study published in the journal Spine found that people who use laptops and smartphones for more than two hours per day are at a greater risk for developing cervical spine degenerative disease. Cervical spine degenerative disease is caused by changes in the discs between the vertebrae in your neck. This condition can lead to serious health problems, including paralysis.
The study found that people who used laptops and smartphones for more than two hours per day had a 91% increased chance of developing cervical spine degenerative disease compared to those who used them for less than 30 minutes per day. Even though there is no cure for cervical spine degenerative disease, early detection and treatment is key for improving your odds of success.
How to Use Your Smartphone Safely
If you use your phone and laptop for work, you’re probably familiar with the pain in your neck and shoulders. The problem is that these devices are often the cause of this pain. Here are some tips to help you use your smartphone and laptop safely:
1. Keep your phone away from your head and neck when you’re not using it.
2. Don’t use your phone while you’re driving or doing other activities that require concentration.
3. Make sure your laptop has a comfortable viewing angle, and keep it at a distance from your head when you’re working on it.
4. Use a cushioned keyboard or mouse if you need to work on your device for long periods of time.
5. Take regular breaks to move your muscles, stretch, and relax your neck and shoulders.
How to Reduce Neck Pain from Working with a Screen All the Time
If you spend long hours working on your computer or phone, you may be putting your neck at risk for chronic pain. Your head and neck are constantly in a position of strain, which can lead to pain and inflammation. Here are some tips to reduce the neck pain from working with a screen all the time:
1. Get up and move around every hour. Even if you only take a few minutes to stretch, it will help break up the monotony and help relieve tension in your neck.
2. Use a keyboard with an incline. When you sit at a desk all day, your neck is forced into an unnatural position. Try using an inclined keyboard instead to help stretch out your cervical spine; this will also improve your typing speed and accuracy!
3. Change your work habits. If you find that sitting at your computer all day is not working for you, try switching to standing or walking meetings instead. This will help break up the hours of sitting in one spot.
4. Use ergonomic office chairs that support your back properly. Many times, problems with our necks occur because we use chairs that are not properly supportive; try to find chairs that have lumbar supports or adjustability so that you can get comfortable throughout the day.
Conclusion
If you’re like many people, your phone and laptop are constantly in your hands. This constant use has been linked to chronic neck pain, which is a serious health issue. The problem is that we tend to hold our phones and laptops too close to our necks, putting excessive pressure on the cervical spine. If this pressure isn’t relieved, it can cause nerve damage and even Chronic Neck Pain. To avoid this problem, make sure to keep your phone and laptop at least one inch from your neck when you’re using them. And if you do suffer from chronic neck pain, consider investing in a good pair of earbuds or headphones so that you can listen to music or watch videos without putting extra pressure on your neck.
