People spend an average of 2 to 4 hours each day with their neck bent over looking at their smartphones. Anyone under the age of 25 or 30 probably spends twice that on their phone, tablet, laptop, etc. That amounts to alot of stress and poor posture that has been called 'text neck", "iHunch", "tablet back", etc.
The average head weighs about 10 to 12 pounds. When we bend our necks forward
at a 15-degree angle, this weight increases to about 27 pounds. At at 30 degrees it’s 40 pounds, at 45 degrees it’s 49 pounds, and at 60 degrees it’s 60 pounds — the weight of about five gallons of paint.
Another way to get the idea, imagine carrying an 8-year-old around your neck several hours per day.
Slouching can affect our moods. We slouch. when we feel sad, scared or powerless. Studies have shown that people with clinical depression adopt a posture resembling the iHunch. Posture doesn’t just reflect our emotional states; it can also cause them.
Slouching can also affect our memory and self-expression. The slouchy, collapsed position we take when using our phones actually makes us less assertive.
Poor posture can cause other problems as well. Experts say it can reduce lung capacity by as much as 30 percent. It has also been linked to headaches and neurological issues, depression and heart disease.
And of course, the bent forward position over time is a main cause of the discs in your neck to bulge or herniated.
In practice I've seen the changes caused this new wave of smartphone and tablet usage. Many patients have to slower progress under Chiropractic care because they can't or won't change their position when using their devices.
Speak to me about solutions you can use. We'll customize a plan that will make help you ease ongoing pain and effects of poor posture.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/opinion/sunday/your-iphone-is-ruining-your-posture-and-your-mood.html?_r=2
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3274835/Shocking-X-rays-teenagers-text-neck.html
Disclaimer
Material on this blog is provided for informational purposes only. It is general information that may not apply to you as an individual, and is not a substitute for your own doctor’s medical care or advice.
Reading this blog should not be construed to mean that you and I have a patient-physician relationship.
The inclusion of any link does not imply my endorsement of the linked site or its affiliates,
NEVER DISREGARD MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE.
