Wellness Corner 14: Tech Neck

Hey Falcons,

We’ve all felt that pull in our neck after a day of looking at our screens. This is called “tech neck.” 

“It’s the fallout from spending too much time looking down at phones or tablets, or holding your head too far forward to look at a computer screen,” explains Stacie J. Stephenson, a doctor of chiropractic and chair of functional medicine.

“Tech neck” can cause headaches, pain in the neck and shoulders, pain in the upper back, tingling or numbness in your hands, and even a loss of the natural curve of the spine. “Tech neck” can also lead to posture problems.

Try holding your phone at eye level (also good for your arm muscles) and when you’re working on your computer, position your screen high enough so you can look straight out at it rather than down. Hold your head over your spine, rather than letting it drop forward; ensure your spine is in one straight line from the top of your head to your tailbone. 

Some other ways to fend off tech neck:

Place your right hand flat against the right side of your head, tilt your head to your right shoulder while pushing against your hand; hold for five seconds and repeat on the other side.

Do the ‘hands to forehead’ stretch: Place both hands on your forehead, and while keeping your chin parallel to the floor, try to push your head forward while also pushing your head back with your hands. Hold for five seconds, and repeat.

Better yet, use a standing or treadmill desk. Either will encourage small movements and will help to keep you from clamping down on your neck muscles.

We’re so surrounded by tech that “tech neck” has become a weekly if not daily experience for many of us. Let’s be more mindful of and try to counteract this condition.