Ever suffer from “text neck”?
Well, continue to stare down at your phone or tablet incessantly and you just might.
Text neck refers to back and neck pain that can only be explained by the strain on the body caused by constant viewing of handheld technology, according to a national chain of physical therapy clinics.
“We have teens experiencing the same shoulder, neck and back pain usually felt by people 30 years older,” Megan Randich, a physical therapist and facility manager for Athletico in Westchester, told the Tribune. “They shouldn’t be experiencing those issues.”
Research published in 2014 in the National Library of Medicine warned that the extra weight put on your cervical spine by looking down could lead to wear and tear, degeneration and possibly surgery. (So look up or look out.)
Here are a few stretches and exercises Athletico, an Oak Brook-based company with 350 clinics across the U.S., suggests you try to correct or improve damage:
Shoulder blade squeeze: Pinch your shoulder blades back behind you, working to touch your elbows. Once back as far as you can go, hold the position for 5 seconds before relaxing. Repeat 20 to 30 times.
Neck stretch: Sit up tall with your head held high. Pull chin toward your chest, creating a double chin, and hold this position for 5 seconds. Repeat 20 to 30 times.
Chest stretch: Stand in the middle of a doorway and hold both ends of the door frame. Lean forward until you feel a stretch. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Repeat 20 to 30 times.
When in doubt, put your phone down and get your butt outside!
For more, check out the Tribune’s report.
@RianneCoale | rcoale@redeyechicago.com
