Is Staring At Your Smartphone Hurting Your Back ?

Believe it or not almost 80% of the population between ages 18 and 40 have their cell phones within reach 90% of their waking day ! So the question of is staring at your smartphone hurting your back something to ponder.

The problem is now creating a new generation of future back pain sufferers. A study of over 7,000 younger adults between 20 and 24 showed persistent neck and upper back pain associated directly with length of time using smartphones.

There have been multiple studies on the topic and what is known is that flexing of the head in a forward motion does directly affect the spine. The further down (or tilt your head forward) you look, the more force you place on the neck which can be measured in pounds.

As seen below the pressure is dramatic. Think about picking up a 50 lb bag of cement and what that type of sustained pressure on your neck could potentially be doing to your spine.

This pressure and resulting condition has been called “text neck”. In fact, the Spine Journal calls it “an epidemic of the modern era of cell phones”

Before you start holding your phone in the air, phones are not the only culprit. People who lean forward when working on computers can experience similar issues. I am not suggesting quitting your job either.

A simple trick is to do cervical rolls and motions including tucking your chin down to your chest (flexion) and then look up at the ceiling (extension). Another is to bend your ear to each shoulder (lateral flexion). Do not force it but doing this a couple times a day for about 5 minutes at a time will help.

It is also recommended that you get regular chiropractic adjustments. This will help restore normal joint function and can reduce or even eliminate muscular tension.

At Physicians Medical Group of Cleveland we have same day appointments available and can help with back pain resulting from text neck, injury or other causes.

So is staring at your smartphone hurting your back ? Depending on how much you use your phone and how far forward you flex your head, the answer may be yes.