Chiropractor Discusses The Danger Of Cell Phone Usage
There are currently more cell phones and mobile gadgets on the earth than humans in less than fifteen years since the original iPhone. Our bodies have undergone considerable physical changes as a result of this transformation. Chiropractors have been at the vanguard of studying how our physiology has changed due to mobile device usage. This is because our everyday actions impact every part of our lives, and the more we repeat an action, the more significant its impact.
What is Text Neck?
We tend to fall into a poor posture when we sit at a desk the whole day, drive for a prolonged period, or use our mobile phones excessively. This posture is hard to miss. It is the forward head position you see everywhere when people stare down at their phones or tablets. This posture puts strain on the musculature of the lower cervical spine, resulting in a phenomenon known as “Text Neck.”
According to NCBI, the average adult head weighs around 10-14 pounds. If you have the habit of a good posture, your head will be exactly above your shoulders, placing no strain on the trapezius muscles that keep your head up. But many people tend to regularly look down, keeping their neck in the flexion position for prolonged periods.
Several occupations require us to gaze downward for prolonged durations unless you’re fixing ceiling panels. This puts a tremendous strain on these muscles, resulting in muscular spasms, discomfort, nerve inflammation, migraines, and other symptoms. Based on how far forward one puts their head, more weight is imposed on these muscles, causing them to get fatigued and feel sore all the time.
The cervical or neck curvature disappears and straightens out due to this poor posture. This upright neck is a “military neck,” and it is unfavorable. When the typical curvature of the neck is lost, we may be more susceptible to muscular spasms, discomfort, spinal displacements, and disc problems. The normal curvature protects us by evenly distributing weight and assisting us in keeping our heads over our shoulders. Bone spurs may form without it leading to arthritis.
Text Neck is a real problem in today’s world, and because we all have mobile phones, we tend to overuse them. Due to this, we are all susceptible to bad posture. This can lead to severe issues in the future. We recommend you consult your Murfreesboro chiropractor for a postural examination and a workout and flexibility regimen to develop better posture and, ideally, restore the natural cervical curvature.
What can we do?
If you have neck or back discomfort due to smartphone overuse, your Murfreesboro chiropractor can help alleviate some of the stress. There are also some basic precautions you may take to lessen your chances of developing neck issues as a result of mobile phone overuse:
- Make a conscious effort to make better use of your phone
- Take regular breaks from your phone to extend your neck by looking up and putting the neck back into the relaxed position
- Raise your phone periodically so that it is level with your face
- If you frequently surf the web, choose an ergonomically optimal PC or notebook
- A more realistic approach would be to take regular rest intervals or to engage in some physical activity that strengthens the neck/shoulder muscles
- Consult with your Murfreesboro chiropractor or other health care provider to treat any present underlying (and maybe undisclosed) spinal disorders and postural distortions
Suggestions for minimizing your exposure to cell phone radiation
Here are some tips for minimizing your exposure to mobile phone radiation:
- Generally, limit your use of mobile phones.
- When you’re not using your phone, turn it off.
- When necessary, take calls on speakerphone.
- Maintain a safe distance between your phone and your body.
- While a phone call is initiated, avoid placing your cellphone towards your head.
- You may use a landline telephone both at home and at work.
- If your cell phone coverage is weak, avoid using it. The lower the coverage, the more power your phone needs and the more radiation you get exposed to.
- Cell phone use in the automobile may be kept to a minimum. The metal components of your vehicle may increase the radiation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Looking Down At The Phone Cause Back Pain?
Yes. Staring directly down at a mobile phone causes the head to lean forward, leading to the back and neck muscles to tire more rapidly. This is because our heads are fairly heavy, and they require the help of our whole neck and back all through the day.
How Can I Check My Posture With My Phone?
Here are some suggestions for keeping proper posture and body positioning when using a cell phone:
- Do not slouch or sag, whether standing or sitting
- Maintain eye contact with the phone
- Reduce the amount of time the arms dangle in front of the torso
- Find a location to relax your elbows, such as a desk, or your knees
- Rather than texting, use voice dictation on your phone
How Can Physical Rehabilitation Help With Back Pain?
A lot of back or neck problems are usually caused by spinal misalignments. A misaligned spine causes your back muscles to stop working in tandem to support your body weight. Spine misalignment can occur for different reasons, but in today’s technological era, most people experience neck pain (and hence spine displacement) due to mobile phone usage.
Nobody deserves to suffer from chronic back pain, and thanks to chiropractic and physical therapy, no one has to. When combined with chiropractic, physical therapy can be an effective therapeutic option to alleviate any kind of pain anywhere in the body, not just the back.
Conclusion
Excessive usage of cell phones may increase tension in the neck and shoulder muscles. This may ultimately cause your spine to get out of alignment, causing further discomfort and pressure on your neck, back, and shoulders. Chiropractic care assists in keeping the spine properly positioned. Massage and exercise therapy can release accumulated stress and lower the risk of overuse damage and severe pain. So, give Revolution Chiropractic Murfreesboro a call now and set an appointment.
