Is your phone always letting you know that your screen time is up? You wouldn’t be alone. We live in the digital age, and technology is everywhere you go; whether at home, at work, or waiting at a bus stop, we’re always looking down at our screens.
Unfortunately, constantly looking downward at our laptops and phones can cause several problems to our necks. For starters, by looking down for extended periods, gravity pulls at our skin and can lead to early sagging of jowls and create a turkey neck. These premature signs of aging are often unwarranted, and thus people seek out cosmetic surgery like a neck lift. A neck lift benefits the loose and sagging skin around the neck and tightens the underlying muscles.
Worse than cosmetic issues, repetitive strain from looking down creates a condition known as “tech neck.”
What is Tech Neck?
Tech neck is a condition that refers to stiffness and pain within your shoulders and neck as a direct result of staring down at your devices. When you’re looking down at a screen, either for work or personal use, your neck muscles work and contracting against the pressure of keeping your head up. The muscles begin to get sore and weak from the strain by holding the contractions for extended periods.
Imagine lifting a weight above your head at the gym and being asked to hold it there for hours; your arms would be insanely sore and tired, even with minimal weight. This same logic can be applied to working any muscle, including the neck.
Not only that, but by looking down for extended periods, gravity pulls at our skin and can lead to early sagging of jowls and create a turkey neck. These premature signs of aging are often unwarranted, and thus people seek out cosmetic surgery like a neck lift. A neck lift benefits the loose and sagging skin around the neck and tightens the underlying muscles.
Unfortunately, this condition is only becoming more prevalent due to the pandemic due to a dramatic increase in digital remote working and education. With recent surveys showing that remote work is now expected to double by 2025, the risk of more people developing future tech necks will be dramatically more likely.
Signs of Tech Neck
- Frequent headaches or migraines
- Muscle spasms in the neck
- cracking shoulder joints and neck
- Stiffness
- Soreness and tenderness
How to Prevent Tech Neck
When you think of having proper posture while on your computer, you’re probably thinking that sitting with a straight back at a perfectly straight line is the way to go; unfortunately, this is incorrect. When focusing on sitting at a perfect vertical posture, your neck muscles have to work to hold your head up, creating neck tension over time. Not only that but keeping your spine contracted at such a rigid position for hours will likely leave you with a sore back on top of your tech neck.
For more optimal positioning, equip yourself in a chair with a 25-30 degree recline with adequate lumbar support for your back is the best way. In this position, there is less pressure on your spine, as well as your neck. It’s also good to get up and move and look around every 15-30 minutes to keep proper circulation and prevent stiffness.
