The world is still far off from flying cars and boots on Mars, but technology has come a long way in the past century. We’re more connected than ever, as Zoom calls and social media let you interact with people worldwide. And as the pandemic showed, many jobs do not need to be onsite, allowing people to work from the comfort of their own home. Though technology has its perks, the constant engagement of our electronic devices has done no favors for the human body.
Tech neck is a growing phenomenon where people are excessively straining their neck muscles from leaning their head forward and looking down at their devices for long periods of time, says Devin Trachman, an orthopedic physical therapist and clinic director at Physical Therapy Central in Oklahoma.
The average adult head weighs 11 to 13 pounds, and the more you tilt down and lean forward, the more pressure is placed on your neck and spine. A head turned down at a 45-degree angle—a common position for people looking at their phones—is going to place 49 pounds of force on your spine, Trachman told PopSci. Over time, this excess pressure can limit your mobility and cause neck spasms and headaches.
Physical therapists recommend regularly stretching the neck out for a few minutes to combat the uncomfortable side effects of staring at our glowing devices. Yoga poses like cobra, child’s pose, and cat-cow are great for relieving tension in the neck, shoulders, and spine, but if you don’t have the space to get on the floor, there are five stretches you can hold right at your desk or chair.
1. Stare up at the ceiling
The average person spends 3 hours and 15 minutes staring down at their phones. To ease the neck discomfort from staying in that position for so long, try looking up.
Jenny Fritts, a physical therapist at Mercy Medical Center in Maryland, says moving your neck in different directions helps, especially when you spend some time stretching your neck in the…
Read the full article here