A medical professional from Yale Medicine has highlighted the detrimental effects of excessive technology use on posture, which can subsequently lead to neck pain. The doctor also suggested some strategies to alleviate back and neck discomfort.
Dr. Mihir Gupta, a physician at Yale New Haven Health, warns about the long-term implications of what is known as "tech neck". He states, "Tech neck can cause you to have long term pain," and adds, "If it goes on too long, that pain can become very difficult to treat and structurally we can start to get damage to our neck, our shoulders or other joints and that can cause pressure on the nerves."
The term "tech neck" refers to the discomfort in the neck and shoulders resulting from prolonged exposure to electronic devices. This condition can also trigger recurring headaches along with stiffness and soreness in the back, neck, and shoulders. Devices such as laptops, video games, tablets, and even television are often associated with tech neck. However, other factors like sitting for extended periods of time, poor posture overall, and carrying heavy backpacks may also contribute to this condition according to a news release from Yale New Haven Health.
Despite not being a severe condition itself, Gupta advises caution as symptoms of "tech neck" could be confused with more serious health issues. He explains: "Sometimes we can have pain that comes from other joints, like our hips, and that can mimic pain that comes from our back or shoulder." If such pain is accompanied by fever, chills or severe headaches it might be time to consult a physician.
Treating "tech neck" could be relatively straightforward according to Gupta. He suggests: "The best prevention is to minimize screen time. When we must use screens for a long period of time, it’s important to maintain good posture and sit up straight keeping our screens at eye level and take regular breaks." Other remedies include regular exercise and stretching out muscles. Maintaining a balanced diet and getting sufficient sleep can also make a significant difference. In some cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories may be required to alleviate the pain.
