Texting becoming a pain in the neck

In today’s technology-thirsty society, it’s rare to not see someone with their head down texting on their cell phone or reading the latest status updates on Facebook.
However, too much texting and tilting your head down can become a pain in the neck for some people.
An excessive amount of leaning your head forward and down, while looking at a phone or other mobile device could result in what some people call “text neck.”
“People get so focused on these devices that they end up holding their neck and upper back in abnormal positions for a long period of time; enough that other people coined the phrase ‘text neck,’ which is essentially referring to postural pain,” said Chris Cornett, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon and spine specialist at UNMC’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation.
The term, text neck, was first coined by a chiropractor in Florida.
It’s defined as overuse syndrome involving the head, neck and shoulders, usually resulting from excessive strain on the spine from looking in a downward position at hand held devices such as cell phones, mp3 players, e-readers and computer tablets.
“When you hold your body in an abnormal position, it can increase stress on the muscles, cause fatigue, muscle spasms and even stress headaches,” Dr. Cornett said.
“With every degree of motion to the front or side that you move your head, the stress on your neck is magnified beyond just the weight of the head."

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