Back and Neck Pain Often Caused By Mobile Device Use
Back pain is receiving ample attention in Europe as a widespread threat to health and a normal lifestyle.
The European Union parliament held a meeting in October, 2011 to learn the latest statistics about back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders around the continent.
Lech Walesa and Antonia Parvanova, leaders of the Fit for Work coalition, cited alarming data: one hundred million Europeans suffer from chronic pain conditions; 49% of work absences are attributed to musculoskeletal pain; more than a quarter of workers report having back pain caused by the demands of their jobs.
Around the same time of this meeting, the British Chiropractic Association released their own data: 24% of British people suffer neck and back pain while using mobile technology.
In technologically developed countries, cell phones, smart phones, iPads and laptops are highly proliferated.
While sending a text message or perusing the internet on a small screen, most mobile device users crane their necks unconsciously.
For those who spend half an hour or more on their devices throughout the day, the damage can add up.
One condition caused by neck-craning has been dubbed "text neck.
" The average human head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds.
When the head is positioned in front of the rest of the body, such as when the neck is craned, the muscles of the neck and upper back have to work hard to keep it from drooping down completely.
As the neck muscles are overworked, they tense up.
If this position is held for a prolonged period of time or repeated many times a day, the neck muscles may "learn" this tension.
When muscles maintain rigidity, it makes returning to correct posture painful and difficult.
Once muscles adapt to poor posture, bone structures may suffer.
The cervical spine has a natural inward arch; text neck flattens out or even reverses that arch.
This could mean damage to the joints and discs of the spine, which require proper positioning for health.
Using mobile technology does not have to ruin your neck and back.
A few steps to improve posture can help you avoid text neck and other mobile device-related pain conditions: - Hold your device higher.
If your phone or tablet is at eye level, you're less inclined to crane your neck.
Remember that the head should be above the shoulders, not forward.
- If you sit frequently throughout the day, make sure your chair is ergonomic.
Ergonomic chairs exist with parts that are adjustable to fit your height, allowing your arms to rest at a level that keeps shoulders loose and your feet to rest on the ground, supporting your legs and hips.
Lumbar cushions, seat cushions and foot rests can supplement any chair to increase its ergonomic capacity.
- Stretch your neck frequently to keep it loose.
Check out the Mayo Clinic's video of easy office neck stretches at http://www.
mayoclinic.
com/health/neck-stretches/MM00708.
As the EU and the BCA have stated, musculoskeletal pain conditions are wreaking havoc on large numbers of people, interfering with work and leisure.
The use of mobile technology is increasing the instances of pain conditions.
Neck and back pain management may simply require better posture when using your phone or laptop.
The European Union parliament held a meeting in October, 2011 to learn the latest statistics about back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders around the continent.
Lech Walesa and Antonia Parvanova, leaders of the Fit for Work coalition, cited alarming data: one hundred million Europeans suffer from chronic pain conditions; 49% of work absences are attributed to musculoskeletal pain; more than a quarter of workers report having back pain caused by the demands of their jobs.
Around the same time of this meeting, the British Chiropractic Association released their own data: 24% of British people suffer neck and back pain while using mobile technology.
In technologically developed countries, cell phones, smart phones, iPads and laptops are highly proliferated.
While sending a text message or perusing the internet on a small screen, most mobile device users crane their necks unconsciously.
For those who spend half an hour or more on their devices throughout the day, the damage can add up.
One condition caused by neck-craning has been dubbed "text neck.
" The average human head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds.
When the head is positioned in front of the rest of the body, such as when the neck is craned, the muscles of the neck and upper back have to work hard to keep it from drooping down completely.
As the neck muscles are overworked, they tense up.
If this position is held for a prolonged period of time or repeated many times a day, the neck muscles may "learn" this tension.
When muscles maintain rigidity, it makes returning to correct posture painful and difficult.
Once muscles adapt to poor posture, bone structures may suffer.
The cervical spine has a natural inward arch; text neck flattens out or even reverses that arch.
This could mean damage to the joints and discs of the spine, which require proper positioning for health.
Using mobile technology does not have to ruin your neck and back.
A few steps to improve posture can help you avoid text neck and other mobile device-related pain conditions: - Hold your device higher.
If your phone or tablet is at eye level, you're less inclined to crane your neck.
Remember that the head should be above the shoulders, not forward.
- If you sit frequently throughout the day, make sure your chair is ergonomic.
Ergonomic chairs exist with parts that are adjustable to fit your height, allowing your arms to rest at a level that keeps shoulders loose and your feet to rest on the ground, supporting your legs and hips.
Lumbar cushions, seat cushions and foot rests can supplement any chair to increase its ergonomic capacity.
- Stretch your neck frequently to keep it loose.
Check out the Mayo Clinic's video of easy office neck stretches at http://www.
mayoclinic.
com/health/neck-stretches/MM00708.
As the EU and the BCA have stated, musculoskeletal pain conditions are wreaking havoc on large numbers of people, interfering with work and leisure.
The use of mobile technology is increasing the instances of pain conditions.
Neck and back pain management may simply require better posture when using your phone or laptop.
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