What is “Text-Neck?”

What is “Text-Neck?" Learn More With Florida Wellness Tampa Chiropractor Call (844) 935-5669

In this modern age of technology, almost all of us have a smartphone we use to communicate with others, take pictures, manage our schedules, cure boredom, and much more. But do we ever stop to think about how looking down at our phones constantly affects our bodies?

Text-neck is the poor posture associated with constant cell phone use that can lead to early wear on the spine, degeneration, and even surgery if not treated early on. The human head weighs an average of a dozen pounds. As you bend your neck forward, the weight on the cervical spine increases, placing more pressure on your neck, shoulders, and back. Teens and young adults need to be especially conscious of their posture as studies show they use smartphones more than any other generation.

What are the symptoms of text-neck?

The main warning signs that you may have text-neck are neck pain, stiffness, and soreness. Some other possible symptoms include:

  • Radiating pain in your arms and shoulders.
  • Tension headaches or migraines
  • Early onset arthritis
  •  Curvature of spine
  •  Muscle weakness
  •  Loss of lung capacity

How to prevent text-neck:

What is “Text-Neck?" Learn More With Florida Wellness Tampa Chiropractor Call (844) 935-5669

While most of us cannot completely eliminate looking down at our smartphones, there are multiple things we can do to lessen the risk of developing text-neck.

  1. Avoiding excessive smartphone usage and make sure not to stay in one position for an extended time while using your smartphone. When you do use your smartphone for extended periods of time, try to position the device so that it reduces strain on your head and neck.
  2. Exercises that strengthen and stretch your neck and shoulder muscles help to prevent aches and pains caused by text-neck. We recommend yoga and Pilates as these exercises place an importance on proper posture.
  3. Be sure to schedule regular adjustments with your chiropractor to relieve tension and ensure proper alignment. If you’ve experienced any text neck related symptoms like headaches or migraines, chiropractic adjustments will play a huge role in easing those symptoms.

If you are looking for a natural solution through chiropractic care, check out the Florida Wellness Medical Group! Don’t forget, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”

Back2School Tips From Your Tampa Chiropractor

Back To School Tips From Your Tampa Chiropractor

For most parents, this time of year is busy with back to school shopping and preparation. Pencils, pens, notebooks, and my kids’ favorite- a new backpack. While most kids would love to just pick the most stylish, colorful bag, with their favorite character; as their parent (and chiropractor), it’s our job to ensure it’s a good fit to prevent any back problems. Here are our top 3 tips on how to pick the best backpack to ensure your child’s overall health:

1. Make sure the backpack is of good quality, the main thing you’re looking for is that it’s waterproof. A waterproof backpack will not only keep your child’s belongings safe, but it also prevents the backpack from retaining water and therefore becoming heavier.

2. Make sure the backpack is lightweight, once filled with all your child’s supplies it should weigh less than 15% of your child’s body weight. For example if your child is 75 pounds, you’d want to ensure the backpack weighs no more than 11.25 lbs. Chiropractors see a high rate of children with back pain at a young age due to backpacks that are too heavy and are not proportionate to their body size.

3. A lot of children will simply throw their backpack on over one shoulder. This can be very damaging long-term and lead to misalignment in the spine if they make a habit of it. Be sure to explain the importance of wearing the backpack evenly on both shoulders to prevent back and shoulder pain.

Back To School Tips From Your Tampa Chiropractor

Another important topic to discuss with your child this back to school season is classroom posture. Sitting at a desk all day, slouching, looking down at their schoolwork, is naturally not the ideal position for children’s posture. Therefore you should make sure your child is mindful of how they sit in class. They should sit with their shoulders back, so that their feet are flat on the floor and their back is against the chair. Any books or screens should be kept at eye level ideally.

Finally our last back to school recommendation has to do with physical fitness. After a summer off from gym class, extracurricular activities, and sports; you should remind your children of the importance of taking the extra time to stretch before and after any physical activity in order to prevent muscle strain and injuries. We also highly recommend a sports physical, which we offer, if your child will be participating in any kind of physical activity this school year.