As is well known, cell phones are one of the basic requirements for individuals in today’s modern-day, not only for their leisure time and communicating with others, but also for business and jobs. Every technology has advantages and disadvantages; for example, Mr Dean Fishman (chiropractor) coined the term “Text Neck Syndrome” after noticing numerous cervical-related injuries in mobile users.
The text neck syndrome was defined as a collection of indications and symptoms caused by repetitive load, tension, and pain in body regions such as the neck, shoulder joints, shoulder muscles, and thoracic region, which was triggered by the continuous use of cell phones. ‘Turtleneck neck syndrome’ or ‘anterior head syndrome’ are other names for a text neck condition.
The cervical and upper thoracic spine are immediately affected by forwarding neck flexion when using a smartphone. The cervical spine is said to be exaggerated by roughly 13 kg of mechanical force when the head is tilted forward to fifteen degrees. Similarly, at 30 degrees of forwarding neck flexion, it increases to 18 KG, 23 KG at 45 degrees, and 28 KG at 60 degrees. If the text neck is not managed, the pathological implications could be similar to occupational overuse disease or repeated stress and strain pathology.
Clinical Presentation:
The most common clinical presentation of text neck syndrome is the beginning of cervical pain, stiffness in the cervical muscles, and muscular soreness. The most common symptoms reported in the literature are a stiffened cervical spine, muscle soreness, and difficulties in cervical motions, cervical pain that can be localized to a specific place or diffuse in nature. Type of the pain can be agonizing, dull, or severe. Furthermore, as the condition progresses, the discomfort may radiate to the arms and shoulders. Muscle weakening of the complex shoulder joint muscles, particularly the upper and middle trapezius and rhomboids, is common. Due to muscle tightness, patients may get headaches in the suboccipital region. Other common signs and symptoms in patients with advanced disease development include thoracic spine straightening, early osteoarthritis start of facet joints, and early spinal degenerative changes such as thinning of intervertebral discs, compression of discs, and impaired lung compliance.
Risk Factors of Text Neck Syndrome:
Excessive use of smart gadgets, by constantly glancing at the screen while bending the neck is the most significant risk factor for text neck syndrome, as previously discussed. Furthermore, the formation of unconscious tension as a result of social media surfing about politics, business, and other current events may increase cervical muscle spasms, increasing the incidence and severity of text neck syndrome. Apart from leisure, professional e-gaming and online enterprises have evolved dramatically in recent years, resulting in a surge in the use of smartphone modalities.
Management of Text Neck Syndrome:
Primary prevention, secondary prevention, and clinical treatment are all used in the treatment of text neck syndrome. The primary prevention regime consists of an educational plan for the general public aimed at changing their attitudes and behaviours when using smartphone devices.
The primary preventative goal is to teach people how to hold their smartphones (and other gadgets) closer to their eyes so that their heads do not drift forward. Taking pauses from constant mobile use or avoiding any form of forwarding head-forward position is also recommended. If desired, set an alarm to remind you to take breaks with recaps. Additionally, there are certain simple workouts that people may take during breaks or after using smartphone gadgets, such as maintaining good posture.
Secondary prevention is aimed at people who have been diagnosed with text neck syndrome’s signs and symptoms. The goal of secondary prevention is to prevent text neck syndrome from recurring and to reduce the severity of the condition. Physical therapists taught more precise and severe posture precautions as well as target exercises.
Clinical treatment is delivered by health care professionals such as physical therapists, who focus on weakening muscles, tensed muscles, intervertebral instability, postural alignment, and flexibility training. In addition, pain management techniques such as electrotherapy, dry needling, Trp injections, K-tapping, position release stretch, MET, and DTM are common in the same way.
- Text Neck Syndrome: What Cell Phone Users Don’t Know - 15/06/2022
