Staring At Screens Could Strain Cervical Spine, Cause 'Tech Neck'

HealthDay reports:
If you spend hours a day scrolling on your smartphone or tablet, you might get 'tech neck.'

'Humans are upright creatures, and our bodies aren't designed to look down for long periods of time, which puts extra pressure on the cervical spine,' said Dr. Kavita Trivedi, associate medical director of the Spine Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Americans spend about five hours a day on their cellphones and more on laptops and computers, Trivedi noted in a university news release. As a result, people can experience muscle stiffness, joint inflammation, pinched nerves, arthritis, and even bone spurs or herniated discs....

'The good news is that most patients with tech neck don't require surgery, and we have a wide range of therapies that can be very effective,' Trivedi said. 'There's no need to live with pain if it can be treated.'
Protect yourself from future neck pain by holding your phone at eye level as much as possible, she advised.

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