If you’re an avid user of a smart phone, iPad, e-reader, hand-held video game, or other similar device, you could be at risk of developing a condition called tech neck. Tech neck syndrome is a painful neck and spine condition caused by poor posture when using digital devices. It’s a growing concern due to the excessive amount of time people are spending on their hand-held devices. At Reimer Wellness Center in Los Altos, CA, we offer chiropractic treatment for neck pain caused by tech neck syndrome. Here's what you should know about this condition.
Tech Neck Causes
Poor posture is one of the main causes of tech neck syndrome. When using hand-held devices, most people bend their heads forward and downward, putting undue stress on the muscles of their neck and upper spine. Left unchecked, this stress can cause misaligned vertebrae in your neck and upper spine, muscle strain and curvature in your spine, resulting in neck, shoulder, and back pain.
By limiting your use of handheld digital devices or being mindful of your posture when using them, you can reduce your risk of developing tech neck. It’s when you go overboard in using these devices over an extended period of time without regard to your posture that you can start to experience tech neck symptoms. Smart phones, digital notebooks, e-readers, tablets, and handheld game consoles are the devices more likely to aggravate this condition.
Tech Neck Symptoms
If you suffer from tech neck syndrome, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms:
- chronic and/or acute neck pain
- shoulder pain
- curvature of the spine
- arthritic pain
- headaches
- inflammation of the muscles, nerves, and ligaments in your neck
- misalignments in your neck and upper spine
An evaluation from your Los Altos chiropractor can determine if you have this condition. If so, we can outline a plan for treatment.
Tech Neck Treatment
Your Los Altos chiropractor can treat tech neck syndrome using chiropractic techniques, massage, corrective exercises, and physical therapy. Tech neck can cause misalignments in your neck and upper spine that are aggravating your condition. Spinal adjustments correct these problems to relieve pain and inflammation.
Massage helps relaxes tense muscles and circulates blood to injured areas to promote quicker healing. Physical rehab exercises help strengthen neck muscles to restore range of motion and mobility.
See Your Los Altos CA Chiropractor for Tech Neck Pain Relief
Chiropractic care offers a safe, holistic means of managing pain and discomfort of tech neck syndrome. We’ll also treat the source of your pain to expedite your recovery of this condition. For diagnosis and treatment of tech neck or any other musculoskeletal injury, contact Reimer Wellness Center in Los Altos, CA, at (650) 949-3232.