Is Your Phone Causing Your Headaches? The Truth About 'Tech Neck'

Look at your posture. Is your chin tucked down to your chest? Are your shoulders rolled forward?

We call this "Tech Neck," and it is one of the most common reasons patients walk into Chiropractic Works.

Here is the math:

Your head weighs about 10 to 12 pounds. That’s like a bowling ball. When you are upright, your spine handles that weight easily. But for every inch you tilt your head forward, the pressure on your spine doubles.

By the time you are looking down at your phone at a 60-degree angle, that 12-pound head exerts SIXTY pounds of force on your neck muscles. That is like carrying an 8-year-old child around... on your neck.

The result? Headaches, numbness in the fingers, and eventually, permanent changes to your spinal curve.

While neck pain is the obvious symptom, "Tech Neck" (or Anterior Head Carriage) often presents in ways patients don't expect. At Chiropractic Works, we often see:

1. Tension Headaches: Often starting at the base of the skull and radiating behind the eyes.

2. TMJ/Jaw Pain: The change in neck angle puts stress on the jaw joint.

3. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Numbness or tingling in the hands and fingers, often mistaken for Carpal Tunnel, but actually originating from the neck and shoulders.

   
   

3 Simple Fixes You Can Do Today

So, do you have to throw away your phone? No. But you do need to change how you use it.

Here are three tips from our doctors here at Chiropractic Works:

1. The T-Rex Arms: Instead of dropping your head to your phone, lift your phone to your head. Tuck your elbows into your ribs (like a T-Rex) and bring the screen to eye level.

2. The Chin Tuck: While sitting in your car or at your desk, pull your chin straight back like you're making a "double chin." Hold for 5 seconds. This resets your posture.

3. The Doorway Stretch: Tech neck rolls your shoulders forward. Stand in a doorway, arms at 90 degrees, and lean forward to open up your chest.

When to See a Chiropractor?

If you have tried improving your posture but still experience daily headaches or stiffness, your spine may have shifted out of alignment (subluxation). Muscles can be stretched, but if the spinal joints are locked, you need a manual adjustment to restore motion.

Call us today at (248) 398- 1650 to schedule your appointment with us or to find out more information.